New Zealand Food Safety (NZFS) has learnt of unauthorised sales of cheese previously discarded in a Waikato landfill.
“Eating cheese that has been in a landfill for a period of time and out of the food supply chain carries very obvious food safety risks of contamination,” New Zealand Food Safety deputy-director general Vincent Arbuckle said.
“The cheese should not be eaten, as it has not been subject to required food safety controls, and we do not know how it has been stored, transported or handled.”
The affected cheeses are all Over The Moon brand, including products with batch numbers 18.11.25, 25.11.25, and 26.11.25.
They included Camembert, OMG, Black Truffle Brie, Galactic Gold, Halloumi, Gee’s Spread (Black Truffle & Garlic Chilli flavours), Smoked Chilli Camembert, Goat Camembert, and Double Delight.
The cheese seems to have been retrieved from the Putaruru Landfill and was reportedly found on sale in a Waikato town on Sunday.
The cheese was not refrigerated and is unsafe to consume. Sales of the affected cheeses may have occurred in other areas as well.
Arbuckle urged customers who find the affected cheese for sale not to eat it and to report it via our freephone number 0800 00 83 33.
Over the Moon said it is actively notifying its customers. The company’s cheese is legally sold through various outlets.
“Cheese purchased from these registered food businesses is safe to eat and not affected. If you are offered Over the Moon cheese from an unregistered business, or the transaction does not seem legitimate, it’s best to exercise caution.”
“Selling dumped cheese is illegal and a food safety risk to public health. New Zealand Food Safety is investigating,” Arbuckle added.
New Zealand Food Safety has no reports of any related illnesses.