Multi-country - Listeriosis cases: recall of pasteurized milk cheeses due to possible contamination by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes

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Listeriosis cases: recall of pasteurized milk cheeses due to possible contamination by the bacterium Listeria monocytogenes

21 cases of listeriosis caused by bacterial strains with similar characteristics have been identified by health authorities, including 18 cases since the beginning of June 2025. The cases range in age from 34 to 95 years. Two deaths have been reported (underlying pathologies indicated for one case, information not provided for the second case).

Published on August 13, 2025

Press contacts

Health Crisis Center, Ministry of Health
alertes-presse@sante.gouv.fr
Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty
ministere.presse@agriculture.gouv.fr
Public Health France
presse@santepubliquefrance.fr
Pasteur Institute – National Listeria Reference Center
presse@pasteur.fr

Investigations carried out by Santé Publique France in conjunction with the National Listeria Reference Centre of the Pasteur Institute and the General Directorate of Food, in coordination with the General Directorate of Health, led to the identification at the beginning of August of convergent epidemiological and microbiological elements, establishing a possible link between these cases of listeriosis and the consumption of pasteurised milk cheeses produced by the Chavegrand company (23).

As a precaution, the company Chavegrand (FR 23.117.001 CE) , in conjunction with the health authorities, is recalling all batches of cheese produced before June 23, 2025.

These products, which are all soft cheeses with a bloomy rind made from pasteurized cow's milk (such as Camembert or Crémeux) or goat's milk (such as bûches), were marketed until August 9, 2025 by the cheese dairy throughout the national territory as well as internationally, under different commercial brands.

The products concerned can be identified according to the data sheets published on the Rappelconso website bearing the health mark FR 23.117.001 CE/UE or at points of sale. The manufacturer has set up a toll-free number for consumers: Tel: 0 800 00 91 80 (9 a.m. to 7 p.m., 7 days a week)

Anyone in possession of these products is asked not to consume them.

Anyone who has consumed it and experiences a fever, whether isolated or accompanied by headaches and body aches, should consult their doctor and inform them of their use. Severe forms with neurological complications and maternal or fetal damage in pregnant women can also sometimes occur.
Pregnant women, immunocompromised people, and the elderly should be particularly attentive to these symptoms. Listeriosis is a potentially serious illness with an incubation period of up to eight weeks.

As a reminder, people at risk, including pregnant women, newborns, immunocompromised people and the elderly, should avoid consuming products most at risk of Listeria contamination: cooked or raw delicatessen products consumed as is (cooked or raw ham, products in jelly, foie gras, pâté, rillettes, etc.), seafood (smoked fish, tarama, raw shellfish, etc.) and certain dairy products (raw milk, soft cheese with a bloomy or washed rind, etc.).

Contamination of pasteurized milk cheeses is rare but can still occur due to the widespread presence of Listeria monocytogenes bacteria in the environment.
For more information:

• Listeriosis – Ministry of Labor, Health, Solidarity and Families
• Listeriosis – Pasteur Institute

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https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/presse/2025/cas-de-listeriose-retrait-rappel-de-fromages-au-lait-pasteurise-en-raison-d-une-possible-contamination-par-la-bacterie-listeria-monocytogenes

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Cases of listeriosis possibly linked to the consumption of pasteurized milk cheeses produced by the Chavegrand company

Public Health France publishes an update as of August 13, 2025

Published on August 13, 2025

Status update as of August 13, 2025

21 cases of listeriosis, caused by bacterial strains with similar genomic characteristics, have been identified by health authorities, including 18 cases since the beginning of June 2025.

They are eleven women and ten men aged between 34 and 95, 18 of whom are over 65.

Among these 21 people, three were taking long-term drug treatments likely to promote digestive infections and all the others had comorbidities known as risk factors for listeriosis (cancers, diabetes, heart disease or advanced age).

All cases were hospitalized for treatment of the following clinical forms: 16 bacteremias, 4 neuromeningeal forms, 1 other invasive form.

Two deaths were reported.

The cases are spread across the entire territory with the exception of Pays de la Loire and Corsica: 4 cases in Île-de-France, 3 in Nouvelle-Aquitaine, 2 in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, 2 in Centre-Val de Loire, 2 in Grand Est, 2 in Hauts-de-France, 2 in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, 1 in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, 1 in Brittany, 1 in Normandy and 1 in Occitanie.

Epidemiological, microbiological and traceability investigations conducted by Santé Publique France, the National Listeria Reference Centre of the Pasteur Institute and the General Directorate for Food led to the identification of converging elements at the beginning of August, establishing a possible link between this cluster of listeriosis cases and the consumption of pasteurized milk cheeses produced by the company Chavegrand (23). As a precaution, on August 9, 2025, the company, in conjunction with the health authorities, recalled all batches of cheese produced before June 23, 2025.

1. Find out more about withdrawal-recall on the agriculture.gouv.fr website

Listeriosis, a rare but potentially serious disease

Listeriosis is a rare but potentially serious infection, usually caused by eating food contaminated with the bacteria Listeria monocytogenes .
This bacterium is frequently isolated from the environment and certain foods, and its ingestion during life is common.

More than 80% of listeriosis cases occur in vulnerable individuals: people aged 65 and over, pregnant women, newborns, and people with compromised immune systems, particularly those with cancer, liver disease, transplant patients, and dialysis patients. More rarely, apparently healthy people can be affected.

Epidemiological and microbiological surveillance of listeriosis in France

Listeriosis has been a notifiable disease since 1998.

Epidemiological surveillance is conducted by Santé publique France (SpF) through mandatory reporting, which allows for the collection of patients' clinical characteristics, along with a survey on patients' food consumption conducted by the ARS or their practitioners.

Microbiological surveillance is carried out by the National Reference Center (NRC) for Listeria, which characterizes the bacterial strains sent to it by the biology laboratories that carried out the isolations.

When the CNR identifies at least two strains – including at least one strain of human origin – with the same genomic characteristics, a cluster is opened and systematically investigated by Public Health France, in order to identify a common source of contamination and allow the authorities to take appropriate management measures to protect populations. Similarly, any new strain entering an existing cluster gives rise to an investigation by Public Health France, in conjunction with the Directorate General for Food (DGAL) and the CNR.

Listeriosis cases on the rise since 2021 in France

Between 1999 and 2020, the annual number of listeriosis cases fluctuated between 188 and 414 cases, with annual incidences between 3.1 and 6.2 cases per million inhabitants.

Since 2021, the annual number of cases and the incidence of listeriosis have been steadily increasing: in 2024, 619 cases were reported, for an incidence of 9 cases per million inhabitants. This upward trend is observed in many other European countries. In France, this upward trend appears to be mainly linked to the aging of the population and the increase in age-related chronic diseases, favoring the occurrence of listeriosis.

Every year, we observe two peaks: a peak at the beginning of the year following the end-of-year holidays (consumption of risky products) and a summer peak.
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https://www.santepubliquefrance.fr/les-actualites/2025/cas-de-listeriose-en-lien-possible-avec-la-consommation-de-fromages-au-lait-pasteurise-produit-par-la-societe-chavegrand

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Week 33, 9 - 15 August 2025
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8. Listeriosis - Multi-country (EU/EEA) -
2024-2025

Overview:

An outbreak of L. monocytogenes was reported by France on July 30, 2025. As of August 13, France has reported
21 cases since December 2024, including 18 cases since June 2025. Two people died. The reported cases in France
are between 34–95 years old, 11 are women. Dates of strain isolation varies between 7 December 2024 and 18
July 2025. In France, epidemiological, microbiological and traceback investigations led to a specific French cheese
manufacturer producing pasteurised soft cow's and goat's milk cheeses. Four other countries (Belgium, Denmark,
the Netherland and Norway) have reported four WGS confirmed cases between 35–70 years old and occurring
between 14 April-9 July 2025. Cases from Belgium, Denmark and The Netherlands reported consumption of
pasteurized soft cheese. Traceability is ongoing.

The products were distributed to Albania, Andorra, Australia, Austria, Belgium, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Canada,
Czechia, Côte d'Ivoire, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France including French Polynesia, Germany, Hong Kong
(China), Hungary, Italy, Japan, Madagascar, Malaysia, Mauritius, The Netherlands, New Caledonia, Singapore,
Slovakia, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom and the United States.

To protect consumers and as preventive measure the food products were recalled. The food safety authorities of
the countries concerned by the food distribution are implementing official control measures, including the issue of
public warnings.

The L. monocytogenes strain belongs to L1-SL387- ST388-CT22724, genoserogroup PCR IVb, (cgMLST Institut
Pasteur scheme).

Austria, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Italy, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the UK report no linked cases
as of 13 August 2025.

ECDC assessment:

This is a multi-country outbreak of L. monocytogenes ST 388 with 25 cases as of 13 August 2025: 21 cases in
France, plus one WGS-confirmed case in Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands and Norway, each. Current
epidemiological, microbiological and trace-back investigations points to pasteurised cow's and goat's milk cheese
from France.

Contamination of pasteurised soft cheese is a rare event. For the population in good general health status, the
overall risk is estimated to be very low: if symptoms occur following infection due to Listeria, light forms of
gastroenteritis are expected.

Given the long incubation time of listeriosis (usually until 28 days, but could last up to eight weeks), more
vulnerable people such as pregnant women, elderly people and people with immune deficiency or with underlying
health conditions who are possibly affected should pay attention to signs like fever or severe headache and seek
for medical advice without delay.
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https://www.ecdc.europa.eu/sites/default/files/documents/communicable-disease-threats-report-week-33-2025.pdf