Two Macroom Buffalo Cheese products have been recalled after Listeria monocytogenes was detected in the products, prompting food-safety authorities to advise consumers not to eat the affected items.

The recall covers Macroom Buffalo Cheese Mozzarella and Macroom Buffalo Cheese Bocconcini. The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued the recall notice on August 28, 2026, specifically covering products distributed in Northern Ireland.

Products affected

The recalled Macroom Buffalo Cheese Mozzarella comes in a 125 g pack and has a use-by date of September 7, 2026.

The recalled Macroom Buffalo Cheese Bocconcini comes in a 160 g pack, also with a use-by date of September 7, 2026.

Consumers should check the product name, pack size and use-by date carefully before consuming the cheese.

Why has the cheese been recalled?

The products are being recalled because Listeria monocytogenes has been found in the affected products.

Listeria monocytogenes is a foodborne bacterium that can cause listeriosis. In healthy people, infection may cause symptoms including fever, muscle aches, chills, nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

However, listeriosis can become much more serious in vulnerable individuals and, in rare cases, can lead to severe complications such as meningitis.

Who is most at risk?

Certain groups are particularly vulnerable to serious illness from Listeria monocytogenes. These include:

• Pregnant women and their unborn babies
• Babies younger than one month
• Adults aged over 65
• People with weakened immune systems

Because of the potentially serious consequences of infection, consumers in these groups should be particularly cautious about recalled foods and follow official food-safety advice.

What should consumers do?

Consumers who have purchased the affected Macroom Buffalo Cheese products are advised not to eat them.

Instead, the products should be returned to the retailer where they were purchased for a full refund. Retailers selling the affected products have been instructed to remove them from sale and display recall notices at the point of purchase.

Food businesses and caterers should also ensure that they do not use or serve the recalled products.

Why is Listeria particularly concerning in cheese?

Listeria monocytogenes can survive and grow under refrigeration conditions, making it an important hazard for certain chilled ready-to-eat foods.

Cheese and other ready-to-eat products can therefore require careful control of processing, hygiene, storage temperature and shelf life to prevent the organism from reaching levels that could pose a health risk.

The recall also comes amid increased regulatory attention on Listeria in ready-to-eat foods. From July 1, 2026, stricter EU requirements came into effect for controlling Listeria monocytogenes in ready-to-eat foods capable of supporting its growth.

Recall action underway

Macroom Buffalo Cheese Products is recalling the affected products, while retailers have been instructed to display notices explaining the reason for the recall and the action consumers should take.

The official FSA notice is identified as FSA-PRIN-42-2026.

Source:https://www.fsai.ie/news-and-alerts/food-alerts/recall-of-specific-batch-of-various-macroom-buffal