Food botulism: which products are causing serious hospitalizations in France ?

Several people have been hospitalized in intensive care eacute;animation or intensive care, presenting signs suggestive of foodborne botulism.

The regional health agency of Centre-Val de Loire announced that five people were hospitalized in intensive care or intensive care after consuming homemade preserves. The authorities then suspect “food botulism” with “damage to the cranial nerves that could develop into descending paralysis”. This has yet to be confirmed. by analysis.

This is a serious disease, fatal in 5 to 10% of cases, caused by a powerful neurotoxin, coming from the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. It starts after a few hours to a few days of incubation, “the occurrence of other cases in the coming days is not excluded”, warns the General Directorate of Health.

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More specifically, the patients ate “Wild Garlic Pesto” from the brand “O Petits Onions”. “The investigations carried out showed a lack of control over the sterilization process of these preserves”, indicated the DGS. The products in question are subject to a recall and must be thrown away by those who still have them, regardless of the manufacturing date and the use-by date. 

What symptoms ?

People who have already consumed such products, particularly those sold at fairs and festivals in Indre-et-Loire, must be vigilant and consult a doctor if they experience symptoms. The most common are abdominal pain, vomiting, vision problems, swallowing and speech problems, dry mouth, and muscle paralysis. In the most serious cases, the respiratory muscles are affected.

Botulism treatment is mainly symptomatic and in the most severe cases requires intensive respiratory care. Last year, customers at a bar in Bordeaux wine producers were also hospitalized following botulinum toxin poisoning after eating sardines offered by the establishment. One of them lost his life.