Slovak retail chain METRO Cash & Carry SR s.r.o. has issued an urgent warning to its customers. It is withdrawing a specific batch of Ďumbier cheese from the counters, in which control tests revealed the presence of a dangerous substance. Customers should be especially cautious if they have this product in their refrigerators at home.
The company took a preventive step after the supplier FMT s.r.o. informed it about a serious finding in the product Ginger brick 45% (approx. 3.1 kg package). Laboratory analyzes confirmed that the limit of chloramphenicol was exceeded in the cheese, which is a broad-spectrum antibiotic whose use in food-producing animals is strictly prohibited in the European Union.
The issue concerns lot L22803 (I: 05; I: 06) with a best before date of September 24, 2026. According to records, this product was sold between April 7 and April 17, 2026. The company immediately initiated the recall process and is warning against consuming this cheese.
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The situation was addressed by Petra Bártová, head of the quality department of METRO Cash & Carry SR, who emphasized that consumer safety is the company’s first priority.
“We would like to inform our customers that we proceeded with the recall of the product as a precaution based on information from the supplier FMT s.r.o., who suspended deliveries due to the detected presence of chloramphenicol. If you purchased the product with the mentioned batch and you have it at your disposal, please do not consume it under any circumstances,” said Bártová.
At the same time, she added that the company is ready to compensate all affected buyers. Customers can return the cheese at any METRO wholesale center until the end of May.
“Money for returned products will be paid out on the basis of the sales receipt. We understand that the receipt can be lost, so in that case it is enough to ask the staff at the customer reception for an exceptional issue of a duplicate. We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused,” added the head of the quality department.
Since METRO serves primarily as a wholesaler, the challenge is also aimed at entrepreneurs in gastronomy and retail. They should immediately inform their other partners or end consumers, take the products back and ensure their withdrawal from circulation. The entire process of returning goods can be carried out no later than May 31, 2026.
