French health authorities have established a link between frozen pizzas of the Buitoni brand, from the Nestlé group, and several serious cases of contamination by the bacteria Escherichia coliwhile dozens of French children fell ill, and two died.
Since the end of February, France has experienced an upsurge in cases of haemolytic and uremic syndromes (HUS) linked to contamination with E. coli. These cases, which cause kidney failure, occur in children.
According to Public Health France, 75 cases are under investigation as of Wednesday, including 41 for which “similar” hemolytic and uremic syndromes have been identified, and 34 for which additional analyzes are in progress. Sick children are between 1 and 18 years old. Two children have died, although the connection to the pizzas has not been confirmed in either case.
“We do not understand what might have happened”
Analyzes confirm “a link between several cases and the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Fraîch’Up range of the Buitoni brand contaminated with bacteria Escherichia coli“, announced in a press release the General Directorate of Health, which depends on the government, while a massive recall of these pizzas was launched two weeks ago.
“Today we do not understand what might have happened, but we are going to develop an analysis protocol that we will submit to the authorities”, said Jérôme Jaton, industrial director general of Nestlé, during a conference in press on Wednesday.
“I am wholeheartedly with these families who have cases of poisoning, often with young children,” he added, recalling that a toll-free number was set up (0800 22 32 42).
The cases occurred in 12 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (16 cases), New Aquitaine (11 cases), Pays de la Loire (10 cases), Ile-de-France (9 cases), Brittany (7 cases), Grand Est (5 cases), Auvergne Rhône-Alpes (4 cases), Center Val-de-Loire (4 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (3 cases), Bourgogne Franche-Comté (2 cases ), Normandy (2 cases) and Occitanie (2 cases).
Until now, the health authorities considered that there was a “possible” link between these contaminations and the pizzas of the Fraîch’Up range.
Without waiting, they had launched the recall of pizzas in mid-March, asking consumers to destroy them if they had any in their freezers. Now, the link is confirmed with some contaminations.
A closed factory
Since March 18, Nestlé has closed two production lines at its factory near Caudry (North) in order to carry out analyses, explained Jérôme Jaton.
“We have no information on the links between the pizzas and the contaminated people”, affirms the general manager in charge of the communication of Nestlé France, Pierre-Alexandre Teulié.
“We are ready to question ourselves completely on the potential causes”, assures Jérôme Jaton, who does not exclude contamination at the level of the pizza dough. The range of Fraîch’Up pizzas comes in nine different flavors, raclette, kebab, 4 cheeses, etc. Nestlé claims to produce between 100 and 150,000 pizzas per week.
Health authorities point out the need to consult a doctor in the event of the onset, within ten days following eating the pizza, of diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting. The consultation is also necessary if, within 15 days, signs of great fatigue, pallor, or a decrease in the volume of urine, which become darker, appear. “In the absence of symptoms within 15 days of consumption, it is also reminded that there is no need to worry,” explains the DGS.
