Death by Cheese in Scotland – At least 30 sick in UK

According to news reports, a person has died in Scotland after falling ill with E coli O145, in what appears to be the first death linked to an outbreak that has affected at least 30 people.  The UK Health Security Agency said the death “has been associated with this outbreak” and added later that it occurred in Scotland but was unable to provide more information about the case.

The agency said that as of 27 December there had been 30 confirmed cases in England and Scotland linked to an outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E coli (STEC), which first emerged in July. The cases involved children as young as seven and those aged up to 81, and most cases had occurred in December.

The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland announced a precautionary recall of four cheeses made by Mrs. Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese on Christmas Eve due to possible E coli contamination. It added a fifth product, which is sold by Waitrose, to the recall list on 27 December.

The products affected by the recall are: Mrs. Kirkham’s Mild & Creamy Lancashire; Mrs. Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire; Mrs. Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire; Mrs. Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire; and No 1 Waitrose and Partners, Farmhouse Kirkham’s Lancashire cheese.

Republished with permission from Bill Marler and Marler Clark. Copyright (c) Marler Clark LLP, PS. All rights reserved.