Food Safety Humor

FSPCA - Food Safety Preventive Controls Alliance

Sunday, April 10, 2022

France - E. coli Outbreak Linked to Frozen Pizza

In France, health inspectors have found a link between a brand of frozen pizza and an outbreak of pathogenic E.coli.  There have been 75 E. coli infections with 2 deaths of children (although not all cases have yet been linked).  

As you may remember, in 2007 there was an E.coli outbreak in the US that was associated with frozen pizza.  In this case, it was the pepperoni topping that was an issue.  In that outbreak, 21 were infected.  Another E. coli outbreak linked to frozen foods including frozen pizza occurred in 2013

https://www.rfi.fr/en/france/20220331-frozen-pizza-blamed-for-some-e-coli-infections-sweeping-through-france-children-nestle
Frozen pizza blamed for deadly E coli infections sweeping France
Issued on: 31/03/2022 - 12:44Modified: 31/03/2022
Health authorities have established a link between a brand of frozen pizza and several serious cases of E coli bacteria contaminations in France. There has been a record number of infections since the end of February, with dozens of children who have fallen ill and two have died.

Analyses have confirmed a link between several cases of infection and the consumption of Fraîch'Up frozen pizzas from the Buitoni brand, which is owned by Nestlé. A recall has been underway for the pizzas for several weeks.

Since the end of February, France has recorded an unprecedented number of hemolytic-uremic syndromes (HUS), blood disorders and kidney problems that are caused by infections from the Escherichia coli, or E coli bacteria.

According to the French public health authority, 75 cases are being investigated, and children as young as one have been affected, across 12 regions of France. This is more than the last outbreak from 2011.

Two children have died, though a link has not been established between their illness and eating the Buitoni pizzas.

"Today we do not understand what could have happened, but we will develop a protocol of analysis and we will submit it to the authorities," Nestlé director-general Jérôme Jaton told a press conference on Wednesday.

The company closed two production lines since 18 March at its facility in Caudry, in the north of France, which produced between 100,000 and 150,000 pizzas per week.

Complications from E coli infections are rare, but can be serious, especially for young children. Anyone who has eaten the pizzas and experiences diarrhea, abdominal cramps or vomiting should consult a doctor within a week.

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