Dairy firm National Foods could be facing charges in Tasmania under the Public Health Act after being investigated for allegedly failing to inform health authorities after finding a pathogen in one of its cheese products produced in Tasmania.

Routine testing by National Foods at its Burnie laboratory reportedly found listeria present in samples of fetta cheese on at least one occasion between March 2007 and June 2008, but the company failed to report it, according to the ABC.

Upon completing their own investigation, the Tasmanian Public Health Department referred the matter to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

The DPP today confirmed to the ABC that legal proceedings were underway, although no summons has been issued. National Foods has since reported that they are cooperating with the authorities but are unable to comment in detail until the matter has been concluded in the courts.

There has been no suggestions that any customer has been affected.

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