January 18, 2013

An outbreak of listeria which health authorities believe may be linked to soft cheeses manufactured in Victoria has prompted Kingaroy Cheese to conduct a voluntary recall of seven products.

A national investigation is currently underway into 18 listeria cases, eight in Victoria, six in NSW, two in Queensland and one each from Tasmania and Western Australia.

The outbreak has led to a warning by the Victorian Health Department and a voluntary recall of soft cheeses manufactured by the Jindi Cheese company’s plant in Gippsland.

Victorian Chief Health Officer Dr Rosemary Lester said a national investigation was currently underway.

“These products have been voluntarily recalled nationally as a precaution, due to the potential risk of listeria infection,” Dr Lester said.

“Listeria infection is particularly dangerous for pregnant women, their unborn babies and elderly people. It can cause miscarriages in pregnant women and even death in people with compromised immune systems.

“Investigations into listeria are complex as it can be difficult to identify the source. Symptoms of illness can take up to 70 days to appear.”

Healthy people usually show only mild symptoms. However, in people at risk, early symptoms of listeria infection include fever, headache, tiredness, aches and pains.

The Department of Health said Jindi Cheese Pty Ltd was co-operating with the investigation.

The company has released a list of products, under a number of brand names, which have been voluntarily recalled.

They include: Wattle Valley, Jindi, Kenilworth, Kingaroy Cheese, Tomewin Farm, Coles Finest, Blue Cow, Emporium, Harris Farm, G&K, Enterprize, Willow Grove, Top Paddock, Siena, Aida Valley and Dynasty.

A full list is available on the Jindi Cheese website.

The Kingaroy Cheese products affected are:

Name Best Before Dates
Kingaroy Cheese Blue (120g) up to and including 20/02/13
Kingaroy Cheese Blue Brie (125g) up to and including 20/02/13
Kingaroy Cheese Camembert (200g) up to and including 15/03/13
Kingaroy Cheese Bunya Black (250g) up to and including 20/02/13
Kingaroy Cheese Washed Rind (230g) up to and including 15/03/13
Kingaroy Cheese Washed Rind (1kg) up to and including 15/03/13
Kingaroy Cheese Triple Cream (1.2kg) up to and including 01/03/13

Anyone who has purchased any of these products with these use-by dates should discard the product.

NB. Kingaroy Cheese has not been manufactured in Kingaroy since April 2011. For a while it was produced by the Mary Valley Cheese Company at Dagun, near Gympie, before production shifted to Jindi Cheese in Victoria.