The Food Safety Authority of Ireland (FSAI) has issued recall notices for over 20 branded cheeses due to the possible presence of Listeria monocytogenes.

The authority said that the recall involves cheeses which were produced by Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese.

The FSAI said that retailers have been requested to remove the implicated cheeses from sale and display recall notices at point-of-sale.

Wholesalers and distributors are also asked to contact their affected customers and recall the implicated cheeses and provide a point-of-sale recall notice.

The authority said that caterers should not use the implicated cheeses and consumers are advised not to eat the implicated cheeses.

The FSAI said that all pack sizes, all batch codes and all expiry dates of the following products are subject to the recall:

Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Blue Brie;
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Bán Brie;
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Gold Beechwood Smoked Mild Cheddar;
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Gold Tomato & Herb Cheddar Style Cheese;
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Gold Cheddar Style Cheese;
Wicklow Farmhouse Cheese Wicklow Gold Nettle & Chive Cheddar Style Cheese;
Dunnes Stores Tomato and Herb Wicklow Cheddar;
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Wicklow Bán Double Cream Brie;
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Farmhouse Baking Wicklow Bán;
Dunnes Stores Delicate & Smooth Wicklow Blue Brie;
Dunnes Stores Nettle & Chive Wicklow Cheddar;
Dunnes Stores Beechwood Smoked Wicklow Cheddar;
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Farmhouse Irish Cheese Selection;
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Simply Better Neven Maguire Cheese Selection;
Dunnes Stores Simply Better Irish Brie Cheese, Rocket and Cranberry Quiche
Spar Select Ballykilty Baking Brie;
St. Killian Carrigbyrne Farmhouse Camembert;
St. Killian Carrigbyrne Farmhouse Baking Camembert;
Wicklow St. Kevin Brie;
SuperValu Signature Tastes Wicklow Bán Brie;
Sheridans Cheesemongers Wicklow Ban Cheese;
Sheridans Cheesemongers Drunken Saint Cheese.

According to the FSAI, the symptoms of Listeria monocytogenes infection can include mild flu-like symptoms, or gastrointestinal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea.

In rare cases, the infection can be more severe, causing serious complications.

Some people are more vulnerable to Listeria monocytogenes infections, including pregnant women, babies, and people with weakened immune systems, including the elderly.

The incubation period (time between initial infection and first symptoms appearing) is on average three weeks but can range between 3 and 70 days.