The National Reference Center (NRC) of the Pasteur Institute has confirmed the presence of botulism bacteria in the brand’s wild garlic pesto “O Little Onions” consumed by five people in Indre-et-Loire, the Ministry of Health said on Thursday. Analyses carried out on the patients, currently hospitalized in intensive care and 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 analyses concerning the fifth case are still in progress.
The Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Populations, responsible for ensuring consumer safety, is continuing its investigations to identify the buyers of the incriminated jars of pesto, the ministry said. On Tuesday, during a press conference at the Tours Regional University Hospital (CHRU), the Prefect of Indre-et-Loire, Patrice Latron, indicated that “two couples (had) presented themselves at the emergency room on Saturday”followed by a fifth person on Sunday after participating in the same “birthday meal”. “Based on converging indices”health authorities suspected cases of botulism linked to the ingestion of wild garlic pesto, produced in Touraine, according to the prefect.
Fatal in 5 to 10% of cases
People who have consumed the product and are experiencing symptoms suggestive of botulism should immediately contact their doctor or call 15, health authorities reminded on Thursday. These people are advised to keep the product in a secure place for analysis purposes. If not consumed, the product should be thrown away immediately, without being opened. In total, “We are looking for 600 jars” throughout France, the prefect estimated on Tuesday.
Botulism is a rare and serious neurological condition, fatal in 5 to 10% of cases, caused by a very powerful toxin produced by a bacterium that develops in particular in poorly preserved food, due to lack of sufficient sterilization. It causes eye problems (double vision), swallowing problems and, in advanced forms, paralysis of the muscles, particularly respiratory muscles, which can lead to death. In September 2023, sixteen customers, including a woman who died from it, were identified as “suspected cases of botulism” after eating homemade canned sardines in a tourist restaurant in the center of Bordeaux.
