Buitoni pizzas: 50 contaminations with E. coli bacteria confirmed, including two deaths – Le Figaro

48 children and 2 adults developed symptoms related to the consumption of Fraîch’Up pizzas, according to the latest investigations revealed by Public Health France. Investigations are progressing. As of April 6, 2020, 50 confirmed cases of hemolytic-uremic syndromes (HUS) and infections with shiga-toxin-producing E. coli bacteria (STEC) linked to the consumption of Buitoni brand Fraîch’Up pizzas have been identified by French Public Health. 48 children and 2 adults were affected. A massive recall of these pizzas was launched in mid-March. Read also“It must never happen again”: parents of hospitalized children organize to file a complaint against Buitoni The 48 sick children are aged from 1 to 17 years old with a median age of 7 years old; 20 (42%) are female; 43 (90%) presented with HUS, 5 (10%) with STEC gastroenteritis. Two children died. The 2 adults are over 90 years old; one presented with HUS, the other with STEC gastroenteritis. These 50 cases occurred in 11 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (11 cases), New Aquitaine (8 cases), Pays de la Loire (7 cases), Brittany (6 cases), Ile-de-France ( 6 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (3 cases), Bourgogne Franche-Comté (2 cases), Grand Est (2 cases), Occitanie (2 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (2 cases) and Center Val-de-Loire (1 case) (figure 2). A letter sent to families “The number of HUS cases linked to the consumption of these pizzas seems to be stabilizing”, specifies Public Health France. For 25 other cases of HUS and STEC infections notified to Public Health France, investigations are ongoing. Read alsoContamination by E.Coli: Fraich’Up pizzas from Buitoni distributed in 23 countries David, whose two sons, aged 7 and 2 and a half, both contracted HUS, received an email on Thursday of Public Health France confirming to him that these children were indeed contaminated by a Buitoni pizza that they had shared. They are “part of the grouped cases of HUS and E. Coli infections for which we have identified a link with the consumption of Buitoni brand Fraîch’Up pizza”, is it written in the letter. “My eldest son suffered minor kidney damage but he must be followed for five years and he missed classes for more than a month”, explains this 38-year-old father, who lives in Alsace and who intends to wear the lawsuit. Read also Buitoni pizzas and Kinder chocolates: the worrying series of food recalls For the moment, an investigation for “manslaughter”, “deception” and “endangering others” has been opened, the Paris prosecutor’s office said on Friday , requested by AFP. This investigation, conducted by the public health center of the Paris prosecutor’s office, has been open since March 22. SEE ALSO – E.coli bacteria: health authorities confirm a link with Buitoni pizzas