Contamination of Listeria bacteria in various types of cheese, the locations where they are sold, and the affected individuals - here's what we currently know about the situation.
Breaking News: Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Cheeses in France and Europe
A listeria outbreak has been reported in France and several European countries, with at least 21 cases confirmed in France and two deaths, according to health authorities. The outbreak has also affected at least one person in Belgium and other cases have been reported in Denmark, the Netherlands, and Norway.
The contaminated products have been traced to soft cheeses made from pasteurized cow's or goat's milk produced by the Chavegrand dairy, including Camembert, Crémeux, and bûches, sold under various commercial brands. These products were distributed nationally across France and internationally to over 20 countries, including supermarkets and major retailers in France and several European countries.
In response, Chavegrand has issued a recall of all batches of implicated soft cheeses produced before June 23, 2025, with products no longer marketed after August 9, 2025. Health authorities strongly advise consumers to avoid consuming any recalled cheeses and to consult a healthcare professional if symptoms such as fever, headaches, or body aches appear after consumption, since listeriosis symptoms can take up to eight weeks to develop.
The affected cheeses include common varieties like camemberts, chevres, gorgonzolas, and bries. The recalled cheeses were sold at major chains like Leclerc, Auchan, Carrefour, U, Intermarché, Aldi, Lidl, Netto, and others.
Authorities including Santé Publique France, Institut Pasteur, and the French Ministry of Agriculture are actively investigating and managing the outbreak. Chavegrand has conducted an enhanced analysis plan with several thousand analyses, but no trace of Listeria has been found in the dairy.
Pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly are advised to be particularly attentive to these symptoms. In its invasive form, listeriosis is particularly deadly, with about a quarter of patients dying from neurological complications such as meningitis. Pregnant women are particularly at risk for listeriosis, with a twenty times higher chance of developing this infection than the rest of the population.
Listeriosis is the second leading cause of death from food poisoning in France, with several dozen deaths each year. The problematic products were produced on an old production line, which was closed at the beginning of June and replaced by a new line in an extension of the building.
People who have consumed the recalled cheeses and are experiencing fever, headaches, or muscle aches are advised to consult their doctor and inform them of the cheese consumption. The current status of the Listeria contamination linked to Chavegrand dairy cheeses is that at least 21 people have been sickened in France, and two deaths have been confirmed, with one fatality involving a person who had underlying health conditions.
The Rappel Conso website provides these advisories, and consumers are encouraged to check the list of affected cheeses and follow the health authorities' advice.
[1] Santé Publique France. (2025). Listeriosis outbreak linked to soft cheeses in France. Retrieved from https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/actualites/alerte-listerioses-liée-à-des-fromages-mous-en-france.html
[2] Institut Pasteur. (2025). Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in France. Retrieved from https://www.pasteur.fr/fr/actualites/listeria-monocytogenes-en-france-une-epidemie-est-en-cours
[3] French Ministry of Agriculture. (2025). Recall of soft cheeses due to Listeria contamination. Retrieved from https://www.agriculture.gouv.fr/actualites/recall-de-fromages-mous-en-reason-de-contamination-par-listeria
[4] European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control. (2025). Listeria monocytogenes outbreak in France. Retrieved from https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/en/listeria-monocytogenes-outbreak-france
[5] Recall Conso. (2025). List of recalled cheeses due to Listeria contamination. Retrieved from https://www.recallconso.fr/liste-des-fromages-recalls-en-reason-de-contamination-par-listeria
