Farm link to cheese E.coli bug

ONE of Britain’s leading cheesemakers told of his shock yesterday after the family firm was linked to an outbreak of food poisoning.

Humphrey Errington insisted he was “baffled” after his famous Dunsyre Blue was connected to a spate of E.coli cases.

Health Protection Scotland is investigating 16 confirmed cases involving the same strain across the country.

Officials said initial inquiries suggested several of those infected had consumed the cheese, which is made with unpasteurised milk.

Errington Cheese, based on a farm near Biggar, Lanarkshire, has issued a voluntary recall of two suspected batches as a precaution.

It affects Dunsyre Blue sold between May 18 and July 29 with batch codes C22 and D14 on the packaging.

But Mr Errington said: “It has rather landed as a bomb on us. We are baffled.”

Their own tests have proved negative. He added: “There’s no reason to think it might be connected.”