50 E. coli infections in France linked to Nestlé pizzas; 2 deaths below investigation
French health officials maintain confirmed 50 cases of E. coli linked to a form of Nestlé frozen pizza.
Of these infections, 48 were precipitated by E. coli O26 and two by E. coli O103, in line with Santé publique France, the French public health agency.
One other 25 cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli (STEC) infections are peaceable being investigated. HUS is a form of kidney failure related to E. coli infections that will cease in lifelong, extreme health issues and demise.
Buitoni stamp Fraîch’Up pizzas sold since June 2021 were withdrawn and recalled in mid-March after Nestlé changed into warned about the ability presence of E. coli O26 in dough feeble to construct them.
Of the 50 patients, 48 are younger people and two are adults. They fell sick between Jan. 18 and March 14. The two adults are older than 90, with one having developed HUS.
Sick younger persons are between 1 and 17 years vulnerable with a median age of 7. Twenty are females and 28 are males. Two kids died but it is not any longer diagnosed if they ate the pizzas and their deaths are below investigation.
Eleven patients live in Hauts-de-France, eight in Nouvelle Aquitaine, seven in Pays de la Loire, six in Bretagne and Ile-de-France, three in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, two every in Bourgogne Franche-Comté, Huge Est, Occitanie and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur and one in Centre Val-de-Loire.
Manufacturing halted and additional fallout
Buitoni has suspended manufacturing and mentioned this might per chance per chance per chance well no longer restart unless the dwelling off of the contamination has been diagnosed so that the essential corrective measures might per chance per chance well presumably furthermore be taken.
French media reported native officials blocked pizza manufacturing at the manufacturing facility in Caudry for the reason that initiate of April per findings from two inspections. Authorities maintain also opened an investigation into the incident.
Santé publique France, the Directorate Regular for Meals (DGAL), Directorate Regular for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF), and Directorate Regular for Well being are persevering with epidemiological, microbiological and traceability work.
Shoppers who bought Fraîch’Up frozen pizzas had been instructed no longer to devour them and throw them away. Expiration dates range from June 1, 2022, to March 31, 2023. Distribution entails no longer lower than 20 nations, essentially in Africa, but also Slovenia, Belgium and Luxembourg.
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