A SUPERMARKET chain with several branches in Cumbria said customers who bought recalled cheese can return it to the store for a refund.

Mrs Kirkham's 'took the precautionary step' of recalling cheese after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) announced that its products might be contaminated with Shiga toxin-producing E.coli on Christmas Eve. 

The affected products are Mrs Kirkham's Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire and Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire. 

Booths is a listed stockist on the Mrs Kirkham's website. The website also states that its cheese is sold at a stall at Kendal Farmers Market on the last Friday of each month. 

The FSA said: "The cheeses are sometimes sold as a full block or served as individual portions, it may have been provided as part of a hamper you've purchased or been gifted.

"In some cases it’s been sold as part of a charcutier grazing platter. It may not always be clear whether you have purchased an affected product.

"If in doubt, consumers are advised to contact the retailer they bought their cheese from to find out if the cheese they have purchased is from the businesses and batches affected and, in the meantime, to not eat the product and ensure it is stored safely, fully wrapped and not in contact with other foods."

The FSA said that Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire Cheese Ltd will put up point of sale notices where the products were sold explaining why the products are being recalled. 

A spokesperson from Booths said: "As a precautionary measure Booths have recalled four lines of Mrs Kirkham’s Farmhouse cheeses, including Smoked Lancashire, Mature Lancashire, Tasty Lancashire, and Mild and Creamy Lancashire cheese.

"All use-by dates of all batches are affected if purchased since October 1, 2023. All of the affected products will have been removed from stock before Booths reopens on December 27, but customers are advised not to eat this product and and ensure it is stored safely, fully wrapped and not in contact with other foods. 

"Booths are fully investigating the matter with the supplier and customers should return any affected products to store for a full refund.  For further information please refer to the FSA notice on this link.  https://www.food.gov.uk/news-alerts/alert/fsa-prin-50-2023."

Booths has stores in Ulverston, Windermere, Kendal, Milnthorpe, Kirkby Lonsdale, Penrith, Keswick, Carnforth and Settle.