E. coli Outbreak in UK Linked to Cheese Products Leads to One Death

A 17-year-old girl fights for her life after contracting the bacteria, believed to be from food at a Christmas market.

A deadly strain of E. coli has led to an outbreak in the UK, with 30 confirmed cases across England and Scotland since late July 2023, and one confirmed death in Scotland.
The majority of the cases occurred in December, with a 17-year-old girl, Antonia Hay, believed to have contracted the bacteria from food at a Christmas market, leaving her in intensive care.
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a recall notice for four cheese products on Christmas Day and a further notice for a fifth product on December 27, all made by Mrs Kirkham’s Lancashire Cheese, due to possible E. coli contamination.
The cheeses, which were part of Christmas hampers and may have been included in charcuterie grazing platters, are Mrs Kirkham’s Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Tasty Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Mature Lancashire, Mrs Kirkham’s Smoked Lancashire, and the Waitrose artisan No 1 Kirkham’s Lancashire product.
While E. coli is often transmitted via contaminated food, it can also be spread by close contact with an infected person or direct contact with an infected animal, according to the UK Health Security Agency.