The food safety watchdog has pulled a selection of family favourite cheeses from supermarket shelves due to fears of contamination with a potentially deadly bacteria. 

The Food Standards Agency warned that cheeses made by Wicklow Farmhouse — including brie and cheddar —  which are sold in independent stores as well as Irish Aldi stores, must be recalled due to potential presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

This bacteria causes a disease called listeriosis that in most people causes flu-like symptoms, as well as vomiting and diarrhea.

However, in rare cases it can trigger potentially deadly meningitis as well as life-threatening sepsis.

The elderly, young children as well as those with weakened immune systems like cancer patients are considered most at risk.

Pregnant women are also vulnerable, with almost one in five of those who contract listeriosis suffering a miscarriage or stillbirth. 

The brands included in the recall are Ballykilty Baking Brie, St Killian Cheese, Baking St Killian Cheese, Wicklow Ban, Wicklow Blue Brie, St Killians, Wicklow Farmhouse Cheddar Wedge, Wicklow Gold Tomato & Herb, and Drunken Saint.

These cheeses are sold in outlets all over Ireland. The recall impacts 150g portions of the cheese brands sold, with all use-by dates affected.

The Food Safety Agency, said the recall specifically affected people in Northern Ireland.

'Point of sale notices will be displayed in the retail stores in Northern Ireland that are selling the products.'

Those who purchased the cheeses are advised to return them to the store where they will receive a refund with no receipt needed.  

It comes just a day after a number of other Christmas dinner favourites were recalled over fears they could harm customers' health. 

Affected products included cabbage, cooked meats as well as several cheeses made by Dunnes in Ireland over similar fears of Listeria contamination.

These included: 

Dunnes Stores Wicklow Smoked Cheddar – 150g

Dunnes Stores Wicklow Tomato & Herb Cheddar – 150g

Dunnes Stores Wicklow Nettle & Chive Cheddar – 150g

Dunnes Stores Wicklow Blue Brie – 150g

Simply Better Irish Brie Cheese & Cranberry Quiche – 800g

Simply Better Wicklow Ban in Ceramic Dish – 150g

Simply Better Double Cream Wicklow Ban – 150g

Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection – 735g

Simply Better & Neven Maguire Cheese Selection – 705g

The latest data shows 177 cases of listeriosis were reported in England and Wales in 2023, a rise from 124 recorded the year prior. 

Of the cases reported last year, 32 were fatal. One of these was directly linked to the consumption of contaminated cheese. 

The most recent cheese recall follows a similar incident last Christmas.

In December last year a number of Mrs Kirkham brands of cheese sold in major supermarkets such as Waitrose were recalled due to  possible E. coli contamination.