Dairy firm rejects claim its cheese is unsafe

The Czech Republic's largest dairy producer, Madeta, has rejected a claim by Slovak authorities that one of its products is unsafe. The company released an official statement on Friday after health officials in neighbouring Slovakia found traces of the potentially-deadly listeria bacteria in one of the company's cheese imports. The product was withdrawn from the shelves. The director of the Czech Veterinary Office has said that he has not yet received an official report from Slovak authorities, but specialists have been sent to check some of Madeta's testing procedures. The listeria bacteria is potentially deadly, especially for the elderly or new-borns.