A new recall interested another cheese present on the shelves of various supermarkets in Italy. The product affected by the note published on the Ministry of Health website is the Monte Veronese cheese, in two different formats.
The Ministry, in its role of monitoring products that pose a health risk, has highlighted that the product presents the risk of the presence of listeria.
Cheese recalled, the batches affected
With two different notes published on its website, the Ministry of Health has highlighted the need to recall two different formats of Monte Veronese Dop cheese. Specifically, it is a cheese produced by Latterie Vicentine SCA with the identification mark IT05100CE.
The first recall note concerns the 2.3 kg package, with the product called “Formaggio Monte Veronese latte intero Dop 1/4” with production batch L012452126 expiring on August 19, 2024.
The second recall note, instead, recalls the 4.7 kg package, with the product called “Formaggio Monte Veronese latte intero Dop 1/2” with production batch L022462126 expiring on August 19, 2024.
Both products, as mentioned, are recalled for “probable contamination by Listeria Monocytogenes” and the Ministry recommends “do not consume the product and return it to the point of purchase”.
This is, among other things, yet another recall of a Monte Veronese Dop cheese after those of Italiamo.
Listeria, the symptoms to watch out for
The intake of food contaminated by Listeria monocytogenes can have serious consequences for human health. The bacterium, if ingested, can cause a disease known as listeriosis, whose effects range from mild symptoms to potentially fatal complications.
Mild symptoms include:
- fever;
- diarrhea;
- nausea and vomit;
- muscle pain;
- flu-like symptoms.
In severe symptoms, however:
- meningitis;
- encephalitis;
- septicemia;
- miscarriages and premature births.
In addition, some people are more at risk. These include pregnant women, newborns, and the elderly.
The diagnosis of listeriosis It is usually confirmed by blood or cerebrospinal fluid tests. The main treatment is antibiotics, administered promptly to reduce the risk of serious complications. In more serious cases, hospitalization is also necessary.
But as always, prevention is better than cure. Prevention of listeriosis requires proper handling and cooking of food, because it is essential to thoroughly cook meat and fish, as well as avoiding the consumption of unpasteurized milk and cheeses produced with it, to avoid any type of infection.
Kitchen hygiene also plays a crucial role, as fruit and vegetables must be washed thoroughly and surfaces and utensils must be cleaned after handling raw foods to prevent contamination.
The Ministry’s controls
Food safety is an aspect that is given priority by the Ministry of Health, which monitors as best it can the quality of products sold in supermarkets and reports withdrawals or recalls through its website.
Specifically, this mechanism is possible thanks to food sector operators (OSA) who have the obligation to inform their customers of any non-compliance found in the foods they place on the market and to withdraw a product from the market if it is not in compliance.
In addition to the recall, if the product has already been sold to the consumer, the Osa must provide for the recall, that is, it must inform consumers about the risky products, also by means of signs to be placed in the points of sale, and publish the recall in the specific area of the Ministry of Health portal.