A company in Austria that was linked to a deadly Listeria outbreak earlier this year is in financial trouble.

AKV, an association to protect creditor rights recognized by Austrian authorities, deals with insolvency cases in courts.

It reported that Käserei Gloggnitz can no longer meet its payment obligations. Insolvency proceedings have been opened by the regional court in Wiener Neustadt. A hearing is planned for early February 2023.

The reasons for the insolvency position are unknown, according to AKV. So the impact of the Listeria monocytogenes incident on the company is unclear.

As part of the proceedings, it will have to be checked whether the dairy producer will be continued and restructured or if existing assets will be inventoried and valued.

Outbreak and recall details
Insolvency proceedings around the assets of the company were already pending at the regional court but a restructuring plan was unable to be fully implemented.

The Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety (AGES) found 10 infections since 2020 because of an identical Listeria strain. Three people died between 2020 and 2022. Illnesses occurred in Vienna. Patients were six women and three men between 29 and 82 years old plus a newborn baby.

Käserei Gloggnitz recalled all kajmak, drinking yogurt, and cream cheese products in September because of potential Listeria monocytogenes contamination. Kajmak is a type of cheese.

Officials found Listeria that matched the outbreak strain in three environmental samples taken from the company in Lower Austria. The outbreak strain was also detected in the food it produced. Items were used in a restaurant, which was mentioned in patient interviews.

Wiener Neustadt’s public prosecutor’s office is also still investigating the incident.

In a different Listeria outbreak in Austria, revealed in mid-December, four people are sick. Chilled smoked mackerel from the Czech Republic is being looked at as a potential source. An AGES spokesman said as food authorities were still investigating the incident, the agency could not provide any further information.