ALERT: Deadly cheese product recalled amid warning it could cause organ damage

Consumers are being warned that a popular Camembert cheese is being withdrawn for supermarket shelves across Ireland amid health concerns.

In a public notice, the Food Safety Authority of Ireland says a specific batch of Gillot cru Petit Camembert cheese has been impacted and is being recalled.

It says that a Shiga toxin-producing E. coli is possibly present in the dairy product, which is produced in France. 

The product should not be eaten and consumers are being advised the specific batch batch has a best before date of 26.08.2025.

Read More: Ireland's cheapest house wants cash upfront - there's a chilling reason why

According to the FSAI, the particular strain of E. coli can cause a complication called haemolytic uraemic syndrome, a condition which destroys red blood cells and stops kidney function. Children under five and the elderly are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of this bacteria. 

Consumers who have ingested this cheese are also at risk of experiencing the typical symptoms of E. coli infection - such as abdominal cramps and diarrhoea. Generally, there is little or no fever, and patients recover within five to ten days. 

The FSAI says that the time between the initial infection and the first symptoms appearing is typically between three and four days but can range between one and eight days after ingestion of the cheese. 

The cheese appears to have been largely sold online. 

A number of French cheeses were recalled earlier this month due to the presence of Listeria. 

In what could be called a summer of recalls, a large number of food products have been recalled in Ireland this August - including fresh spinach, coriander and a wide variety of ready-meals.