Thirty Britons have been sickened by an E. coli outbreak linked to artisanal cheese.
Four varieties of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese have been urgently recalled and issued with a 'do not eat' warning due to fears of contamination.
Food safety chiefs are warning that the affected cheeses may have been unknowingly gifted into baskets.
Most E. coli strains are harmless, although the strain feared to be lurking in Mrs Kirkham's cheeses can cause diarrhea, vomiting, fever and stomach cramps.
In extremely severe cases, Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (as is known) can lead to kidney failure.
Four varieties of Mrs Kirkham's Lancashire cheese have been urgently recalled and issued with a 'do not eat' warning due to fears of contamination. Pictured: A general shot taken from the Lancashire cheesemaker's website
The joint warning from the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) only applies to Mrs Kirkham's Mild and Creamy Lancashire, Lekker Lancashire, Mature Lancashire and Smoked Lancashire varieties.
However, the raw milk cheesemaker, based in a village just outside Preston, said it has since “made the difficult decision to recall all our products” purchased between October 1 and December 24.
Tina Potter, head of incidents and the Food Standards Agency, said: 'We are aware that this recalled product may be popular over the festive period, particularly as it has been sold as part of a Christmas gift basket.
'We therefore urge consumers to check whether they have purchased or received this product as a gift.'
Bosses at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) have revealed that 30 confirmed cases have been recorded in this outbreak.
They all tested positive for a specific strain called 0145, which was feared to lurk in the cheese.
STEC, or Shiga toxin-producing E. coli, is spread by eating contaminated food, such as raw leafy vegetables or undercooked meat.
The highly contagious bacteria can also be spread by touching infected animals or their feces and coming into contact with other people who are sick.
UKHSA chiefs said people should take extra care to avoid infection and, if they are struck by the bug, passing it on to others.
Amy Douglas, UKHSA's incident director for gastrointestinal infections and food safety, said: 'There are at least 30 confirmed cases of this particular outbreak of STEC in Britain.
'If you have diarrhea and vomiting, you can take steps to avoid passing it on to family and friends during the holidays.
'Washing your hands with soap and warm water and using bleach-based products to clean surfaces can help prevent the spread of infection. Do not prepare food for others if you have symptoms or for 48 hours after the symptoms have disappeared.'
Symptoms range from mild to bloody diarrhea, says the UK Health Security Agency. Vomiting, fever and stomach cramps are other telltale symptoms. But in severe cases, the bug can cause hemolytic uremic syndrome, a life-threatening condition that can lead to kidney failure.
She added: 'Many of us will be traveling at Christmas, but if you are feeling unwell you should avoid visiting people in hospitals and care homes to avoid passing on the infection in these settings.
“Do not return to work or school once the semester restarts until 48 hours after your symptoms have resolved.”
It comes after the FSA first issued a 'precautionary' recall warning for the products on Christmas Eve.
The FSA also said there may be further recalls of other products as investigations continue.
Ms Kirkham's said: 'We are working very closely with our local Environmental Health Officers and the FSA to fully understand the situation and whether our products are being appropriately sourced.
'This recall involves new testing techniques designed to better identify potentially dangerous strains of Shiga toxin-producing E. coli.
“Unfortunately, these new testing techniques are not currently the industry standard.”
The statement also said that the company had been left in limbo as many labs were currently closed for the holidays.
“We will suspend all orders until the investigation is complete and we have answers.”