French cheese hit by health scare


06 April 1999


French cheese hit by health scare


THE French cheese industry has been hit by a health scare over listeria, report The Independent and The Guardian.

The scare began when two people died, and a third lapsed into a coma, in January, from eating cheese contaminated with the deadly bacteria.

Since then the health ministry has ordered the withdrawal of several batches of cheese in which minute traces of listeria were detected.

Cheeses affected include varieties of Camembert, Chaource, Savoyard and Maroilles.

Some producers see the health ministrys intervention as a plot to destroy the traditional production method which uses unpasteurised milk.

There is also suspicion that the new health drive is a response to long-standing US demands for the creation of world trading standards for cheese.


  • Carrot proves it can take on listeria. FWi, 07
    January 1999

  • Dairies offer reassurance on milk scare. FWi, 2
    August 1998

  • Unpasteurised milk to be banned. FWi, 3 November
    1997.

  • US wants ban on unpasteurised soft cheese. FWi, 05
    September 1997

    • The Independent 06/04/02/99 page 12
    • The Guardian 06/04/99 page 12

  • See more