Urgent Cheese Recall - Could Cause Kidney Failure, Officials Warn

• Food safety officials have issued an urgent recall for a batch of Gillot cru Petit Camembert cheese sold in Irish shops due to possible contamination with dangerous E. coli bacteria that could cause severe illness, particularly in young children and elderly people.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) confirmed today that the 150g packs of the French cheese with a best before date of 26 August 2025 are being withdrawn from sale immediately. The recall, classified as Category 1 requiring immediate action, affects products that may have been purchased yesterday before the expiry date.

The cheese may contain Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC), a particularly harmful strain of the bacteria that produces powerful toxins capable of causing serious health complications. While most E. coli bacteria are harmless and naturally present in human intestines, STEC can trigger severe symptoms.

Anyone who has purchased the affected Gillot cru Petit Camembert should not consume it and should dispose of it immediately. The specific batch being recalled bears the best before date of 26.08.2025, and the product originates from France.

Symptoms of STEC infection typically appear three to four days after consumption, though they can emerge anywhere between one and eight days. Initial symptoms include severe abdominal cramps and diarrhoea, which may be bloody. Unlike many food poisoning cases, STEC infections usually involve little or no fever.

Most healthy adults recover within five to ten days without treatment. However, the infection poses significant risks to vulnerable groups, particularly children under five years old and elderly people. In these groups, STEC can cause haemolytic uraemic syndrome (HUS), a life-threatening complication where red blood cells are destroyed and kidney function deteriorates, potentially leading to kidney failure.

Retailers across Ireland have been instructed to remove all affected products from their shelves immediately and display recall notices at point of sale. The FSAI alert, numbered 2025.45, applies to all establishments selling the product, including supermarkets, delicatessens, and speciality food shops.

Consumers who have purchased this cheese and experience symptoms should contact their GP immediately, particularly if symptoms are severe or involve bloody diarrhoea. Parents of young children and carers of elderly people should be especially vigilant.

The recall highlights the importance of checking best before dates and following food safety alerts, particularly for unpasteurised or "cru" (raw milk) cheeses, which carry higher risks of bacterial contamination than pasteurised products.

Any consumers seeking further information about the recall can contact the shop where they purchased the product or check the FSAI website for updates.