Hey, folks! Gather round for some important news – there’s a big health scare making the rounds. It seems that 30 people have fallen seriously ill after indulging in some questionable cheese over the Christmas period. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) and Food Standards Scotland (FSS) have sounded the alarm, teaming up with the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) to warn everyone to steer clear of four varieties of Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese. They’ve been taken off the shelves due to potential contamination with a strain of E.coli bacteria called Shiga toxin producing E. coli.

These suspect cheeses were distributed as part of fancy gift hampers, and now, unfortunately, a number of people are paying the price. The affected cheeses are Mrs Kirkham’s Mild & Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire and Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire, and they pose a serious threat of causing food poisoning.

So, what are the symptoms of this nasty bacteria? It can bring on severe diarrhoea, stomach cramps, vomiting, and fever. In more serious cases, it could even lead to kidney failure and be fatal. That’s some pretty scary stuff!

Amy Douglas from the UKHSA has reported at least 30 confirmed cases of this outbreak in the UK. She’s urging anyone experiencing these symptoms to take care not to spread it to others during the festive season. That’s right, folks – be sure to wash your hands thoroughly, use bleach-based products for cleaning, and definitely avoid preparing food for others if you’re feeling unwell.

The tricky part is that these cheeses could be part of a hamper, served as individual portions, or included in a gift set. So, it might not always be clear whether you’ve got the suspect cheese in your fridge. The FSA advises reaching out to the store where you purchased the cheese to confirm if it’s from the affected batches. In the meantime, refrain from consuming it and ensure it’s stored apart from your other foods.

If you happen to have purchased any of these recalled products, remember – do not consume them! It’s also important to thoroughly clean all surfaces to prevent the bacteria from spreading to other food items. Keep your fridge at a cool 5°C or below to halt the growth of harmful bacteria.

Tina Potter, head of incidents at the Food Standards Agency, is urging everyone to spread the word about the recall. And if you’ve got any of this questionable cheese lying around, it’s probably best to get rid of it.

So, spread the word and be on the lookout for these dodgy cheeses, and above all, stay safe and have a wonderful Christmas!