E.coli bacteria

Scottish food safety officials have recalled another unpasteurised cheese from Errington Cheese amid fears it could contain e.coli.

Food Standards Scotland (FSS) recalled a batch of Lanark White, an unpasteurised white sheep’s milk cheese, on Saturday after samples tested positive for e.coli O157.

“Although this organism may not carry shiga toxins, it is associated with human disease in the UK, so this cheese is a potential risk to health,” the FSS said.

Officials last week claimed an unpasteurised blue cheese produced by Errington was the “most likely cause” of the Scottish e.coli outbreak that affected 20 people and claimed the life of a three-year-old child.

However, the Lanarkshire-based cheesemaker has strongly rejected any links to the e.coli outbreak, claiming no samples of the implicated Dunsyre Blue cheese have ever tested positive for e.coli bacteria.

It refused to issue a voluntary recall for the affected batch of Lanark White, and said on Saturday it was organising its own testing of the cheese.

“When we were told of the presumptive e.coli 0157 result we immediately consulted experts in dairy microbiology,” it said in a statement on its website.

“The experts told us they were confused and concerned by the testing methodology adopted by the laboratory.

“We have given careful consideration to this and to the fact that the cheese has been on the market for three weeks now with absolutely no reported incidence of illness.

“We have arranged for the sample of the same cheese tested by the authorities to be tested and the results will be ready on Monday when we will review the situation and post an update.”

The FSS said investigations into food safety related to unpasteurised cheese produced by Errington were “ongoing” and that “actions will continue to be determined by what is necessary to protect public health and the interests of consumers”.