Investigations into the Buitoni pizza scandal, contaminated with E.coli bacteria and suspected of having caused the death of two children, were entrusted to an investigating judge on Thursday, Le
Figaro
learned from the Paris prosecutor's office, confirming information from RMC.
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Read alsoBuitoni: contaminations, complaints, pizzas concerned … Update on the health scandal
This judicial investigation was opened on the counts of "
involuntary homicide against a person, involuntary injuries against 14 people, deception on goods causing a danger to the health of man or animal, exhibition or sale of food used for food that is falsified or corrupted and harmful to health, placing on the market of a product dangerous to health and endangering others
, ”indicates the prosecution in
Figaro
.
56 confirmed cases
An investigation was opened on March 22.
As of May 4, 2022, 56 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 Public Health France.
55 children and 1 adult were affected.
Read alsoBuitoni factory: “I am scandalized by the images I have seen”, declares Olivier Véran
Thursday morning, the Minister of Health Olivier Véran reacted to the case, on BFMTV - RMC.
"
There are two children who died from eating pizza (...) I assure you that it is poignant
," he said, saying he was "
devastated
" by this "
absolutely terrible human tragedy
" which "
should never happen
" but "
could not be avoided
".
The minister assured that he "
(s') fully associates with the pain and distress of this family
", that he "did
not have the right to contact
" because he had "
not to know the 'identity
' of the victims due to medical secrecy.
"
If they wish to contact me directly, I will obviously answer them
", he added, wishing "
there is no ambiguity on (his) emotion
" and on "
the determination (of the government) to ensure food security and shed light on this history
”.
"
Presence of rodents
"
Health authorities had been alerted in February by the resurgence of cases of kidney failure in children, linked to contamination by Escherichia coli.
On March 18, Nestlé announced the withdrawal of pizzas from the Fraîch'Up range marketed since June 2021, after being informed of the presence of the bacteria in the dough of a product.
On March 30, the health authorities announced that they had established a link between the consumption of these pizzas and several serious cases of contamination before the prefect of the Nord department banned, two days later, the production of pizzas at the Caudry site. (North).
Inspections had pointed to “
the presence of rodents
” and the “
lack of maintenance and cleaning of manufacturing, storage and passage areas
”.
Shortcomings which could be the cause of the presence of pathogenic bacteria in the products then marketed.
Searches took place on April 13 in the Caudry factory, and at the headquarters of the Nestlé group, in Hauts-de-Seine.
