Council bars product return before safety tests complete
20 Jan 2017
Manufacturer Errington Cheese has been told it must put on hold plans to put two of its products back on the market after the local authority demanded further tests.
Last year, the Carnwath, South Lanarkshire-based company’s Dunsyre Blue cheese was cited as a “likely” cause of an E coli infection which affected 20 people and resulted in the death of a young child.
The firm has always questioned the alleged link between its goods and the outbreak, saying it had received no opportunity to defend itself against the claims and had been forced to lay off staff.
The current investigation by South Lanarkshire environmental health officers was activated after the company asked permission to put two of its other products - Lanark Blue and Corra Linn – back on sale.
Although the products were not linked to the incident in 2016, Food Standards Scotland had placed a halt on the company’s products.
South Lanarkshire has now placed a detention order on Errington products pending further tests.
However a council spokesman said the authority was keen to work with the company to ensure product safety.
Errington Cheese owner Humphrey Errington also said he hoped the council action would speed up a resolution of the issue.
