The Ministry of Health has issued an active health alert and ordered the recall of two cheese products sold nationwide after laboratory tests detected potentially harmful bacteria that can pose serious health risks.

The recall involves Montino Semiduro cheese produced by the Monteverde brand and Semiduro cheese from the Quesos Del Norte Las Cuatro A brand.

Health officials confirmed the presence of Listeria monocytogenes in laboratory tests of Montino Semiduro cheese. Listeria infections can be particularly severe for adults over 65, pregnant women, young children, and people with weakened immune systems.

Laboratory testing also found high levels of Staphylococcus aureus bacteria in Semiduro cheese from Quesos Del Norte Las Cuatro A, according to health authorities.

S. aureus is commonly found on the skin and in the upper respiratory tract and is usually harmless. However, it can become pathogenic and is a known cause of skin infections such as abscesses, respiratory infections, including sinusitis, and food poisoning.

Pathogenic strains of S. aureus can produce potent toxins and express proteins that interfere with the body’s immune response. The bacterium is also among the leading causes of deaths associated with antimicrobial resistance and has produced antibiotic-resistant strains, including methicillin-resistant S. aureus, commonly known as MRSA.

Health authorities advised anyone who experiences symptoms after consuming the recalled cheese products to seek medical attention immediately at a local clinic or healthcare provider.

All supermarkets and grocery stores carrying the affected cheese brands have been ordered to remove the products from store shelves.