ALERT: Award-winning cheeses removed from supermarket shelves amid 'do not eat' warning

Consumers and shoppers are being advised that a large range of popular cheese products have been removed from supermarket shelves across the country and should not be eaten if already purchased.

In a public notice, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland says more than a dozen Old Irish Creamery Cheese cheddar cheese products have been recalled due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

Wholesalers and distributors have been requested to contact their affected customers and to immediately recall the implicated batches. 

Retailers who stock the products are making arrangements to remove the implicated batches from sale and they have been asked to display recall notices advising customers they should not consume the cheeses.

READ ALSO: ALERT: Irish supermarkets pull popular crisps from shelves marked 'unsafe' to eat

According to the FSAI, symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea. In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications.

Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly. The average incubation period is three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days. 

All of the implicated batches of cheese have best before dates throughout 2025 - click here to see the full list.