Lancashire Village Rocked by Deadly E.coli Cheese Scare
The quaint village of Goosnargh in Lancashire is at the centre of a shocking E.coli outbreak. One person has died, and 11 others are in hospital after falling ill. The source? Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese, a beloved family-run dairy farm famed for its traditional raw milk cheeses.
Raw Milk Cheese at Heart of Outbreak
Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese, established in 1978 by Ruth and John Kirkham, is now farmed by their son Graham. Unlike other producers, this artisan cheesemaker uses raw milk from their 100 Holstein Friesian cows — skipping pasteurisation entirely.
But that decision has backfired. The farm is linked to a nationwide outbreak of Shiga toxin-producing E.coli (STEC), affecting at least 30 people, including children as young as seven. Four cheese varieties have been urgently recalled:
- Mild and Creamy Lancashire
- Tasty Lancashire
- Mature Lancashire
- Smoked Lancashire
Major Retailers Pull Mrs Kirkham’s Off Shelves
Retail giants Booths, Neal’s Yard Dairy, and the northerner’s favourite, No 1 Waitrose, have all withdrawn Mrs Kirkham’s cheeses from sale. The recall covers all batches with use-by dates from October 30, 2023, to January 16, 2024.
Despite the crisis, many loyal customers vow to stick with Mrs Kirkham’s once the dust settles, praising the cheese’s crumbly texture and burst of flavour.
Serious Health Risks Warned
The UK Health Security Agency revealed victims range from seven years old to 81, all infected with the dangerous E.coli 0145 strain. This nasty bug poses a higher risk than typical E.coli strains and can cause deadly haemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), especially in young children and vulnerable individuals.
Authorities continue to investigate, warning that STEC can spread via contaminated food, including undercooked meat and raw vegetables, or through contact with infected animals and their waste.
Food Safety Under the Microscope
The Food Standards Agency issued the recall on Christmas Eve and warned more products might be pulled as the probe continues. This outbreak has sparked serious concerns about the safety of raw milk cheeses, reminding food producers to stick to strict hygienic standards to avoid future tragedies.
The FSA, UKHSA, Public Health Scotland, and Food Standards Scotland are working together to solve the case. So far, a related death linked to E.coli O145 has been reported in Scotland, though details remain sparse.
For now, experts urge the public to avoid consuming Mrs Kirkham’s affected cheeses until the situation is under control.
