Mrs Kirkham’s moves to reassure customers after cheese product recall

Pic: Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese — Pic: Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese

The makers of a cheese produced in Preston have moved to reassure customers after four key products were recalled on Christmas Eve.

The Food Standards Agency last night (December 24) confirmed Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese Ltd had issued an urgent recall due to its cheese potentially containing E.Coli.

The recall covered Mrs Kirkham’s mild and creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s mature Lancashire and Mrs Kirkham’s smoked Lancashire. All sizes of cheese are covered by the recall and all use by dates of all batches purchased since 1 October 2023.

Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese, based near Goosnargh, issued a new statement to customers on Christmas morning stating that they had taken the decision as a ‘precaution’.

The statement said: “We would just like to say this is a precautionary measure, to ensure the well being of our customers.

“We were only made aware of this yesterday teatime, and as yet there has not been any testing carried out on our product by the Food Standards Agency to confirm this. We are working with our EHO (environmental health officer) and the FSA to get to the bottom of this matter.

“Mrs Kirkham’s site, is SALSA plus Cheese-accredited (SPDF-SCA), and part of the Specialist Cheesemakers Association, and have followed the best code of practice within our business. This particular strain of E.coli that is involved in the potential outbreak is something which is new to us all.

“All the testing we carry out, and all other cheesemakers, on their products from milk through to finished product; this new strain would not have apparently been detected.”

The statement continues that further testing cannot be carried out until Wednesday (December 27) due to the Christmas period, leaving the business ‘in limbo’. It also states that other brands other than Mrs Kirkham’s have been affected.

The Food Standards Agency has also issued an alert that Route des Terroirs is recalling Morbier Maison Monts & Terroirs Chalet De Vevy Raw Cows’ Milk Cheese because Shiga toxin-producing E. Coli has been found in some batches of this product.

Customers have flooded the social media accounts of the business with messages of support due to the setback at one of the busiest times of year.

In its advice to consumers, the Food Standards Agency said last night: “Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese Ltd has taken the precautionary step of recalling various Lancashire Cheese products because the products might contain E. Coli.

“The cheeses are sometimes sold as a full block or served as individual portions, it may have been provided as part of a hamper you’ve purchased or been gifted. In some cases it’s been sold as part of a charcutier grazing platter.

“It may not always be clear whether you have purchased an affected product. If in doubt, consumers are advised to contact the retailer they bought their cheese from to find out if the cheese they have purchased is from the businesses and batches affected and, in the meantime, to not eat the product and ensure it is stored safely, fully wrapped and not in contact with other foods.”