Two Dead in French Listeria Outbreak Linked to Soft Pasteurized Cheeses
In France, 21 people have been sickened and two have died in a listeriosis outbreak linked to pasteurized milk cheeses produced by the Chavegrand company, reports the Ministry of Agriculture and Food Sovereignty. Additionally, one person in Belgium has been infected with the same strain of Listeria monocytogenes as those involved in the outbreak.
Of the 21 cases that have been identified, 18 occurred since early June. Patients range in age from 34–95 years. Underlying health conditions were involved in one of the fatalities.
The investigation—conducted by Santé Publique France, the National Listeria Reference Centre at the Pasteur Institute, the General Directorate of Food, and the General Directorate of Health—identified epidemiological and microbiological evidence in early August linking the outbreak to certain soft cheeses made from pasteurized cow’s or goat’s milk, produced by the company Chavegrand. Affected products include soft cheeses with a bloomy rind, such as Camembert, Crémeux, and bûches, produced before June 23, 2025.
The products were distributed nationally and internationally under multiple brand names, and were marketed until August 9, 2025. As a precautionary measure, Chavegrand—working with health authorities—has issued a recall of all implicated batches. Affected cheeses can be identified through recall notices posted on RappelConso and bear the health mark FR 23.117.001 CE/UE.
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