Recall of raw-milk Morbier cheeses produced by Perrin-Vermot due to possible contamination with Escherichia coli bacteria.

cp_retrait_fromages_Morbier_20250127.pdf

Published on 27 January 2025

Press Contacts

Health Crisis Center, Ministry of Health and Access to Healthcare
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 Reference Center for E. coli
presse@pasteur.fr

In January 2025, health authorities identified 11 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) in adults. Of these cases, 9 were confirmed by the National Reference Center for Escherichia coli (Institut Pasteur Paris and Robert Debré Hospital).

Investigations conducted by Santé publique France in collaboration with the National Reference Center for Escherichia coli and the Directorate General for Food, in coordination with the Directorate General for Health, have identified converging epidemiological and traceability data linking the cases to the consumption of raw-milk Morbier cheese produced by Perrin-Vermot (25) and the occurrence of these clustered cases of HUS.

Microbiological investigations are currently underway on the cheese products.

These products were sold between November 12, 2024, and January 24, 2025, by the Perrin-Vermot cheese factory throughout the country, directly, in supermarkets, or through intermediaries. Withdrawal and recall operations among its customers have begun today.

Without delay, and in the interest of public health, the producer of these cheeses, in coordination with health authorities, has today initiated the recall of certain batches of Morbier, whether sold as whole wheels, portions, slices, or on cheese platters. Organic Morbier and long-aged Morbier are not affected by this recall.

The affected products can be identified using the product information sheets published on Rappelconso or at retail locations.

Perrin-Vermot has set up an information hotline for consumers: 03 81 62 06 29 Anyone in
possession of these products is asked not to consume them.

What to Do

Anyone who experiences diarrhea, abdominal pain, or vomiting within 3–4 days of consuming these products (up to 15 days) is advised to consult their doctor promptly, informing them of their consumption of these products and the company’s product recall.

If no symptoms develop within 15 days of consuming the affected products, there is no need to worry or see a doctor.

In general, health authorities remind the public that, as a precaution, raw milk and cheeses made from raw milk should not be consumed by young children—especially those under 5 years of age—pregnant women, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly. You should opt for hard-pressed cheeses (such as Emmental, Comté, etc.), processed cheese spreads, and cheeses made from pasteurized milk.