Two major supermarkets, Morrisons and Asda have urgently pulled Taleggio from stores.

The cheese product has been withdrawn from sale and full refunds given to all customers who have purchased the product.

Morrisons have taken the precautionary measure of extending their recall of The Best Taleggio because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the product.

In their latest update, the supermarket said: “This product recall has been updated to include more use-by dates.”

The 200g packs were sold with all date codes up to and including April 28, 2024, reports Birmingham Live.

Product details

Morrisons The Best Taleggio

• Pack size: 200g
• Use by: All date codes up to and including April 28, 2024

ASDA Extra Special Taleggio

• Pack size: 200g
• Use by: April 14, 2024

Symptoms caused by the Listeria monocytogenes organism can be similar to the flu and include high temperature, muscle ache or pain, chills, feeling or being sick and diarrhoea. However, in rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications, such as meningitis.

Some people are more vulnerable to listeria infections, including those over 65 years of age, pregnant women and their unborn babies, babies less than one-month-old and people with weakened immune systems.

Point of sale notices have been splayed in all retail stores that are selling this product.

Customers are being urgently informed through recall notices about why certain products are being withdrawn from shelves, with specific guidance on what actions to take if they have purchased the affected items.

The NHS has starkly warned: “If you get listeriosis while you’re pregnant, there is a risk it could cause miscarriage or stillbirth.”

The health service also cautioned that “In babies and people with a weakened immune system, listeriosis can sometimes lead to serious and life-threatening problems such as sepsis or meningitis.”

In its recall notice, Morrisons reassured customers that they can easily get a full refund by stating: “We don’t need a receipt.”

Asda customers have been urged to return affected products to their nearest store to receive a full refund without a receipt.

Taleggio cheese, which is at the centre of this recall, is a semi-soft cheese from Italy, specifically named after the Val Taleggio region.

It’s known for its thin crust and robust aroma, yet it offers a surprisingly mild taste with a unique fruity tang.