Cheese brand issues statement after deadly bacteria detected in its products

Tahsildaroğlu has issued a statement regarding the detection of non-compliance with L. monocytogenes in its 400-gram Mature Classic Crumbled White Cheese product with batch number 290625. The company announced that, following the notification, the process of withdrawing the products belonging to the relevant batch from the market as a precaution has been initiated.

The process began after a consumer complaint was filed with the Alo 174 Food Hotline. Teams affiliated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry conducted an inspection at the retail business subject to the complaint. The sample taken from the product was analyzed by the Kocaeli Food Control Laboratory Directorate.

As a result of the laboratory analysis, it was determined that the product did not comply with the Turkish Food Codex Microbiological Criteria Regulation. According to the Ministry's statement, an administrative fine was imposed on the manufacturing business, and it was reported that the products with batch number 290625 were being recalled from the market for destruction.

COMPANY STATEMENT ON INVESTIGATION

In a statement aimed at informing the public, Tahsildaroğlu stated that an official inspection was carried out at the production facility following the notification in question. The company stated, "the process of withdrawing the products belonging to the relevant batch from the market as a precaution has been initiated."

The firm reported that, as part of its own investigation, environmental samples were taken from 37 different points in the production facility; samples were also taken from witness final products and products with consecutive batch numbers and analyzed in accredited laboratories. The statement argued that no L. monocytogenes findings were encountered in these analyses.

The company also stated that no L. monocytogenes had been detected in studies conducted to date within the scope of the Listeria Environmental Monitoring Program, which it noted is applied regularly. It was noted that the product subject to the complaint was produced on a separate production and packaging line, and that no findings of non-compliance were encountered in other products during the investigations.

The Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, on the other hand, reported that the inspection frequency of the relevant business has been increased, samples have been taken from similar products, and the analysis process is ongoing. The Ministry announced that necessary legal actions will be taken if non-compliance is detected.

Tahsildaroğlu stated that its production facilities operate in accordance with international food safety standards as well as national legislation, and requested that claims exceeding the scope of the incident not be given credence. The company emphasized that it prioritizes food safety and consumer health.