French Listeria outbreak spreads to other countries; 2 patients dead
The European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) has weighed on a multi-Pays Listeria Monocytogenes epidemic with 25 cases.
France has had 21 infections since December 2024, including 18 since June 2025. Two people have died.
Patients are between 34 and 95 years old and 11 are women. The dates of isolation of the strains are between December 7, 2024 and July 18, 2025. Epidemiological, microbiological and trace surveys led to a French manufacturer producing cheeses with sweet cow and pasteurized goat milk.
Surveys are carried out by Public Health France with the help of the National Listeria Reference Center of the Pasteur Institute, the Directorate General of Foods (DGAL) and the Directorate General of Health (DGS).
Infections in other countries
Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway have recorded four confirmed cases between 35 and 70 years old and occurring between April 14 and July 9. The patients of Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands said they had eaten cheese with soft pasteurized before falling ill.
A company called Chavegrand recalled all the batch of cheese produced before June 23, 2025. The items were sold under different commercial brands. They can be identified by the health brand FR 23.117.001.
Potentially contaminated products have been distributed in around thirty countries, including the United States, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, the Czech Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Denmark, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, Japan, Switzer, Singapore, Slovakia, South Korea, Spain Sweden, Switzer and the United Kingdom and the United States.
The ECDC monitors the incident through its network of national contact points and with the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) and the European Commission.
“Contamination of pasteurized dough cheese is a rare event. For the general health population, the overall risk is estimated at very low: if symptoms occur after an infection due to lists, light forms of gastroenteritis are expected, “said ECDC.
“Given the long time of incubation of listeriosis (generally up to 28 days, but could last up to eight weeks), more vulnerable people such as pregnant women, the elderly and people with immune deficiency or with underlying health problems which are perhaps affected should pay attention to signs like fever or serious headaches and seek medical advice without delay.”
On Listeria infections
Foods contaminated by Listeria Monocytogenes may not seem, feel or spoil the taste but can always cause serious and sometimes fatal infections. Anyone who has eaten cheese and developed symptoms of Listeria infection should ask themselves for medical treatment and speak to their doctors of the possible exposure to Listeria.
In addition, anyone who has eaten cheese should be monitored for symptoms in the coming weeks, as it can take up to 70 days after exposure to Listeria so that listeriosis symptoms are developing.
Symptoms of Listeria infection may include vomiting, nausea, persistent fever, muscle pain, severe headache and stiff neck. Specific laboratory tests are necessary to diagnose Listeria infections, which can imitate other diseases.
Pregnant women, the elderly, young children and people such as cancer patients who weaken immune systems are particularly at risk of serious illnesses, fatal infections, other complications and death. Although infected pregnant women can only feel light and pseudo-grapple symptoms, their infections can lead to premature delivery, newborns or even mortinity infection.
(To register for a free subscription to Food Safety News,Click here))
