In a press release published on Tuesday 10 September, the Ministry of Agriculture ordered the recall and withdrawal of artisanal cans of wild garlic pesto from the O Ptits Oignons brand. This announcement follows a news report in Indre-et-Loire about five probable cases of botulism following a family meal during which this product was consumed.
Following investigations by the Indre-et-Loire population protection department, the Ministry of Agriculture states that “Artisanal production conditions do not guarantee the sterilization of the bottles”.
“Therefore, it was immediately decided to withdraw from the market all manufactured bottles as a precautionary measure (all manufacturing dates, all expiration dates for optimal use – DLUO)”adds the Ministry of Agriculture.
Products sold at various events in Indre-et-Loire
Although these preserves have been sold in recent months at various events organised in the Indre-et-Loire department, the ministry is calling for “people who still have these products (…) Do not consume them, do not open them and throw them away”.
Botulism is a rare neurological condition. According to data from the national public health agency, Santé publique France (SPF), dating back to 2017, the national incidence rate is low, amounting to 0.08 per million inhabitants. The disease can be serious if not treated in time, and between 5% and 10% of cases are fatal, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). The condition is caused by a toxin that acts on the nervous system, produced by the bacteria. Clostridium botulinumexplains SPF.
