Alert for contamination of an important product brand of cheeses has been issued by the Ministry of Health (Minsal). Within the framework of the National Microbiological Hazard Surveillance system, the Valparaíso Health Department reported the presence of a food bacterium in a batch of laminated butter cheese in Chile.
Given this situation, it has been decided to eliminate the product from the market and a summary has been initiated, in addition to prohibiting the operation of the plant of the responsible company. He cheese affected by this contamination is the laminated buttery cheese “La Rotunda”, made in the Valparaíso Region.
Specifically, the presence of the bacterium listeria monocytogenes has been identified in a container of 300 grams of cheese with manufacturing date 04/20/23 and expiration date 08/20/23, whose batch number corresponds to T43000323. Listeria is a bacterium found in soil and irrigation water in the field, and can contaminate food during its production, processing, packaging or storage process.
Listeriosis, an illness caused by listeria bacteria, can cause fever, muscle aches, and diarrhea, similar to other foodborne infections. This health problem mainly affects pregnant women, newborns, the elderly, and people with a weakened immune system. In cases of pregnancy, listeriosis can cause miscarriages or premature births. It can also cause serious infections in the bloodstream or brain, so a warning has been issued about it. brand.
The Ministry of Health has taken measures in relation to this cheese contaminated, such as withdrawing all products from the market and closing the production plant. By virtue of article 178 of the Sanitary Code, the Minsal has the power to take various measures to prevent risks to the population, such as the closure of establishments, the confiscation and destruction of contaminated products.
