‘Confusion’ over latest safety advice on cheese

● Food watchdog raises concerns over approved Errington variety

A cheesemaker has said it has been left “confused” after Scotland’s food safety watchdog warned consumers not to eat a variety of its products which have returned to the shelves.

Food Standards Scotland said preliminary testing on batches of Errington Cheese’s Corra Linn brand raised potential contamination which could be “harmful to health.”

However, the Carnwrathbased producer said South Lanarkshire Council has approved the sale of certain batches of the cheese. The firm and the watchdog have been in a long-running standoff since last July, when its Dunsyre Blue cheese was linked to an E.coli outbreak in a which a three-year-old girl died. Errington has rejected any suggestion is products were responsible.

In September, FSS imposed a ban on all of Errington’s products, but last month, the company won the latest round of a court battle against the ban.

In a statement, FSS said laboratory tests supplied by Errington “have raised further concerns and support Food Standards Scotland’s position that the cheeses have not been produced safely.”

It added: “Food Standards Scotland has also had sight of analysis undertaken by South Lanarkshire Council on Corra Linn. This analysis is incomplete. It does not provide sufficient evidence that the cheese was produced safely and preliminary testing on other batches of Corra Linn has identified markers which signify potential contamination that could be harmful to health.

“Food Standards Scotland understands that South Lanarkshire Council has decided not to detain these cheeses and allowing them to be placed on the market was premature, as there is currently insufficient evidence to provide assurances to the public that these cheeses are safe.”

In a statement, Errington said: “We are confused by the apparent differences between FSS and South Lanarkshire Council because the council approved the sale of certain batches of Corra Linn. We do not understand why the Food Alerts For Action is being used in this way.

“We look forward to the court hearing which has been fixed and which will allow the sheriff to hear the evidence for and against the cheese and to make a decision.”