Contaminated cheese 'deadly'

2008-04-02 14:11

Stuttgart - Two German states stepped up a warning on Wednesday against an Italian brand of white cheese, saying it was contaminated with dangerous bacteria which could kill babies and old people.

Shoppers who have ricotta salata made by two Cremona dairies in their refrigerators should destroy it, the states of Baden- Wuerttemberg and Rheinland-Pfalz said.

Stocks have already been removed from supermarkets after a first alert last month.

Ricotta salata is a salty cheese made from sheep's milk with a dense but slightly spongy texture.

A health official in Stuttgart said food scientists in the city of Koblenz had established on Tuesday that production from the two Cremona dairies, PS Giacomo and Gennaro Anrichhio, was more contaminated than originally thought in mid-March.

Samples contained high concentrations of the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes, which can keep growing under refrigeration and causes intestinal complaints, diarrhoea and cold-like symptoms which are worse, and potentially fatal, for those with weak immunity.

The health spokesperson said the cheese could be recognised by an oval logo of origin saying "IT 03/180 CE". - Sapa-dpa

- SAPA