Health officials have issued a warning after two people fell sick with Listeriosis following consumption of soft cheese from Austria.
The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) said no confirmed cases have yet been reported in Austria. One person in Germany and one person in the Czech Republic fell ill with listeriosis after eating cheese from a Tyrolean manufacturer.
The Federal Ministry of Social Affairs, Health, Care and Consumer Protection (BMSGPK) asked AGES to investigate the Listeria outbreak.
Wilder Käser has initiated a recall of products and informed the public.
The recall covers all batches of “Kleiner Stinker” up to date Feb. 24, 2025 and all batches of “Großer Stinker” cheese up to Feb. 10, 2025. According to the recall notice, analyses carried out as part of internal quality assurance revealed that “Kleiner Stinker” and “Großer Stinker” from the Wilder Käser dairy were contaminated with Listeria.
Company shut and Czech findings
AGES reported the company has been closed and commercial customers have been informed. No more products from the firm may be placed on the market. However, it cannot be ruled out that products are still available to private individuals or in the catering trade.
Because of the high level of contamination with Listeria, authorities said it is strongly recommend that the affected products are not consumed under any circumstances, but disposed of or returned to the point of sale.
Health officials in the Czech Republic warned against consumption of “Großer Stinker Weichkäse” with a weight of 290-grams, batch 4507, and best before date Jan. 18, 2025. The cheese is produced by Wilder Käser in Austria and distributed in the Czech Republic by Tiroler Bauernstandl.
Based on a consumer’s complaint of illness after consuming “Großer Stinker Weichkäse mit Rotkultur” from batch 4205 and with expiry date Dec. 25, 2024, an inspection was initiated with help from local authorities.
While this batch was no longer available, samples of the same product from batch 4507 were taken for laboratory testing.
Results revealed that all samples significantly exceeded the European limit of 100 colony forming units per gram (CFU/g) for Listeria monocytogenes.
Czech officials said information about the dangerous product was shared with other EU member states through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF).
About Listeria infections
Food contaminated with Listeria monocytogenes may not look or smell spoiled but can still cause serious and sometimes life-threatening infections. Anyone who has eaten any recalled product and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should seek medical treatment and tell their doctors about the possible Listeria exposure. Also, anyone who has eaten any of the recalled products should monitor themselves for symptoms during the coming weeks because it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria for symptoms of listeriosis to develop.
Symptoms of Listeria infection can include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle aches, severe headache, and neck stiffness. Specific laboratory tests are required to diagnose Listeria infections, which can mimic other illnesses.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children, and people such as cancer patients who have weakened immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, life-threatening infections, and other complications. Although infected pregnant women may experience only mild, flu-like symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, infection of the newborn, or even stillbirth.
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