Cheese sold in Tesco and Spar is urgently recalled over ‘listeria contamination’ fears
CHEESE products sold in Tesco and Spar have been urgently recalled over "listeria contamination" fears.
The dangerous bacteria could cause illnesses such as flu, sickness, diarrhoea and meningitis, the Food Standards Agency (FSA) has warned.
Customers who have purchased any of the 18 recalled cheeses, all produced by JOD Food Products, have been urgently advised: "Do not eat."
The authority added: "Symptoms caused by this organism can be similar to flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea.
"However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.
"Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one-month-old and people with weakened immune systems.
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"If you have bought the above products do not eat them. Instead, return them to where they were purchased for a full refund."
The warning mostly consists of products in the Old Irish Creamery line of cheddar cheeses.
Tesco Ireland, which stocks several Old Irish Creamery products, issued its own warning.
It reads: "Old Irish Creamery is recalling a specific date code of its Old Irish Creamery Cheese Cheddar with Whiskey 150g and Old Irish Creamery Cheese Cheddar with Porter 150g [May 15, 2025].
"This is due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes that, if consumed, may pose a health risk."
Other recalled variants of the cheese include Chilli, Red Wine, Sriracha, Pepper Cheese, Irish Sage Cheddar, Caesar Salad, Coffee, Oak Smoked, Chives, Cranberries and Garlic & Herbs.
In addition to these Old Irish Creamery cheeses, the Claddagh Bo Irish Cheddar Cheese with Porter Beer, Irish Cheddar with Murphy’s Stout and Horgans Irish Smoked Cheddar have also been recalled.
Anyone who has purchased any of these products is advised to check the FDA website for full details on the relevant batches - including "use by" and "best before" dates.
If affected, they will then be able return to the store for a full refund.
Customers with further with queries or concerns can contact JOD Food Products on 00353 6371209.