New Zealand · Consumer Alert · Food Safety
It sounds unbelievable, but New Zealand Food Safety (under the Ministry for Primary Industries) is treating it as a serious public health risk: cheese that was dumped at a Waikato landfill has allegedly been taken and resold. Officials say the product was outside the food supply chain, wasn’t refrigerated, and should not be eaten.
What happened in Waikato?
The warning centres on cheese reportedly taken from Putaruru Landfill and later discovered being offered for sale in Waikato. Once any food product has been disposed of, there’s no reliable way to confirm safe handling, hygiene, temperature control, or transport conditions — even if it looks “fine” on the outside. That’s why food safety authorities are urging people to treat this as a do-not-eat situation.
The cheeses named in the alert are from artisan producer Over The Moon. The key detail is not just the brand — it’s that these items were never meant to return to the public. Food that has left regulated distribution channels can pick up contamination through storage, pests, heat exposure, damaged packaging, or simple time out of refrigeration.
Why this is going viral:
- It’s a “wait, what?” story: landfill food allegedly being resold.
- It involves a trusted local brand name, which raises alarm quickly.
- It’s a consumer safety warning — people share these fast.
Which products are affected?
New Zealand Food Safety says the affected products are Over The Moon cheeses with batch numbers: 18.11.25, 25.11.25, and 26.11.25. If you have Over The Moon cheese at home and can’t confirm it’s from a normal retailer, it’s worth double-checking packaging carefully.
The listed products include: Camembert, OMG, Black Truffle Brie, Galactic Gold, Halloumi, Gee’s Spread (including Black Truffle and Garlic Chilli flavours), Smoked Chilli Camembert, Goat Camembert, and Double Delight.
Important: even if a product smells “okay” or looks normal, dairy is high-risk when it’s been unrefrigerated or stored in unknown conditions. You can’t see dangerous bacteria, and heat exposure can accelerate spoilage.
What should you do if you bought it or saw it for sale?
The official guidance is clear: do not eat it. If you’ve purchased cheese that matches the affected batch numbers — or you’ve seen it being sold informally — report it to New Zealand Food Safety. Authorities have asked the public to call their free number: 0800 008 333.
- Stop eating it immediately if you’ve already opened it.
- Keep the packaging (or take photos) showing the product name and batch number.
- Write down where you bought it (market, roadside stall, private message sale, etc.).
- Report it to New Zealand Food Safety on 0800 008 333.
- If anyone feels unwell, seek medical advice and mention the food safety alert.
If you’re unsure, take the safest route:
Don’t taste-test it “just to check.” If a product’s history is unknown — especially chilled dairy — the risk isn’t worth it.
How to spot risky “too-cheap” food deals
This incident is also a reminder to be cautious with heavily discounted food being sold outside regular retail. A bargain can be genuine — but warning signs include no clear supplier details, missing receipts, vague “stock from a friend” explanations, and products that should be refrigerated being sold from a boot, a chilly bin with melting ice, or a table with no visible temperature control.
If you want to read the official warning directly, it’s published by MPI here: MPI / New Zealand Food Safety warning page. For the news report that brought wider attention to the alert, you can also read: 1News coverage.
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Written by Swikblog Desk
Updated: 22 December 2025 (NZT)
