France… Judicial Investigation after cases of Sardine poisoning
French judiciary has opened an investigation on charges of ‘involuntary manslaughter and causing unintentional injuries’ following 15 cases of poisoning, one of which resulted in death, linked to the consumption of canned sardines at a restaurant in Bordeaux in the southwest of the country.
Fifteen customers of the restaurant, who are suspected in the case, have been identified, some of them holding American, Canadian, Irish, Greek, and British nationalities. They are considered ‘suspected cases of foodborne botulism,’ according to the latest report issued by health authorities on Friday.
The common factor among these individuals is their consumption of locally made canned sardines at a bar named ‘Chin Chin’ between September 4 and 10 in Bordeaux, which hosted the first two matches of the 2023 Rugby World Cup (Ireland vs. Romania and Wales vs. Fiji) last weekend.
A 32-year-old woman died in her Paris home after being admitted to the hospital in pain. The prosecution stated that an autopsy of the body was conducted on Friday, with the results expected to be announced early next week.
Among the other cases, 11 remain in hospitals in France and abroad (one person in Spain and two in England), including six still in intensive care at Bordeaux University Hospital, according to the Regional Health Agency in the Nouvelle-Aquitaine region.
The initial investigation also concerns ‘the introduction of harmful foodstuffs into the market’ and ‘the sale of spoiled or toxic food products.’
Penalties imposed, depending on the individuals involved, range from two to five years in prison and fines ranging from 45,000 euros to 600,000 euros.
Foodborne botulism, also known as botulism poisoning, is a rare and serious neurological condition that leads to death in 5 to 10 percent of cases. It is caused by an extremely potent toxin produced by bacteria that grow especially in poorly preserved foods due to inadequate sterilization.
This can cause eye problems (double vision), difficulty in swallowing, and in advanced cases, muscle paralysis, especially in respiratory muscles, which can lead to death.
