Salmonella, enterohaemorrhagic E. coli, Listeria monocytogenes… many bacteria can be found in raw milk cheeses. Here’s how to avoid getting them.
- Sometimes implicated in the onset of food poisoning, raw milk cheeses are often subject to withdrawal-recall procedures.
- 24,000 raw milk cheeses from the Lactalis group have just been recalled for the risk of listeria.
In France, over the past decade, 34%, 37% and 60% of outbreaks of salmonellosis, listeriosis and enterohaemorrhagic E. coli (EHEC) infections, respectively, have been linked to the consumption of milk cheeses. believed. While some of their bacteria can cause gastroenteritis-like symptoms (Salmonella spp. or Staphyloccus aureus), others can have much more serious consequences such as kidney failure (EHEC), or even death (L. monocytogenes, EHEC) .
Camembert, brie, dung…
ANSES was therefore requested by the Directorate General for Food to identify and prioritize the main bacterial hazards associated with the different types of raw milk cheese. “It was also a question of taking stock of the main sources of contamination and the means implemented to control the associated risk”, says the public health agency.
The main sources of danger are soft cheeses with a bloomy rind (such as Camembert, Brie or Crottin) and uncooked pressed cheeses with short ripening (such as Morbier, Reblochon, Saint-Nectaire). Next come soft cheeses with a washed rind, such as Munster or Maroilles.
Removing the crust is useless
“Contrary to popular belief, removing the rind of a raw milk cheese is not enough to protect against bacteria because they can be found everywhere in the cheese”, explain public health experts. “On the other hand, when raw milk cheeses are well cooked, as in a recipe in the oven, they no longer present a health risk”, they add.
At the consumer level, it is also essential to respect the indications on the raw milk cheeses appearing on the packaging or given by the trader concerning the temperature of conservation of the product in the refrigerator as well as the expiry dates.
ANSES also reminds pregnant women, immunocompromised people, people over 65 and young children of its recommendations to avoid consuming raw milk cheeses, with the exception of cooked pressed cheeses such as Gruyère. or county.