It is botulism. The National Reference Centre (CNR) of the Pasteur Institute has confirmed the presence of the bacteria in wild garlic pesto from the O Ptits Oignons brand consumed by five people in Indre-et-Loire, the Ministry of Health announced on Thursday 12 September.
The tests carried out on patients currently hospitalised in intensive care and in the continuous monitoring unit (USC) in the Centre-Val de Loire region have also biologically confirmed the presence of botulism in four of these five patients, while the tests relating to the fifth case are still ongoing. The Departmental Directorate for the Protection of the Population, responsible for ensuring consumer safety, is continuing its investigations to identify the buyers of the jars of pesto in question, the ministry said.
Catherine Sorita-Minard, the public prosecutor of Tours, confirmed on Thursday the opening ofa criminal investigation entrusted to the interdepartmental directorate of the national police and the departmental directorate of population protection (food safety service) for “ Unintentional injuries due to carelessness, negligence or failure to comply with a duty of safety or caution imposed by law or regulations.”.
A rare and serious neurological condition
On Tuesday, during a press conference at the regional university hospital center (CHRU) in Tours, the prefect of Indre-et-Loire, Patrice Latron, announced that “Two couples (had) presented themselves to the emergency room on Saturday”followed by a fifth person on Sunday after having participated in the same “birthday meal”. “On the basis of convergent indices”Health authorities have suspected cases of botulism linked to the ingestion of wild garlic pesto produced in Touraine, according to the prefect.
People who have consumed the product and show symptoms suggestive of botulism should contact their doctor immediately or on the 15th, health authorities reminded on Thursday. It is recommended that these people keep the product in a safe place for analysis purposes. If not consumed, the product should be discarded immediately, without opening it. In total, “We are looking for 600 jars” throughout France, the prefect estimated on Tuesday.
Botulism is a rare and serious neurological disease, fatal in 5% to 10% of cases, caused by a very potent toxin produced by a bacteria that develops especially in poorly preserved foods due to a lack of sufficient sterilization.
It causes eye problems (double vision), difficulty swallowing and, in advanced forms, paralysis of the muscles, especially the respiratory muscles, which can lead to death. By September 2023, sixteen clients, including one woman who died, had been identified as “suspected cases of botulism” after eating homemade canned sardines at a tourist restaurant in central Bordeaux.
