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Apple compotes cooked on March 6 are not the only ones to contain traces of listeria.
While the Ansamble group, the French leader in collective catering for young children, is still trying to identify the source of this contamination, tests carried out on the 102 dishes produced from March 6 to 15 showed the presence of this bacterium. , in small quantities, in two other dishes cooked at the Mornant workshop, in the Rhône.
An organic omelet from March 9 first, then a semolina dish from March 14.
Ingestion of this bacterium can cause a disease called listeriosis, which is rare but fatal in 30 to 40% of cases, according to the Pasteur Institute.
Ansamble had however received the alert on the apple compote tested positive for listeria in a nursery in the 7th arrondissement, on March 12.
“At first, in accordance with the recommendations of the health authorities, we had suspended production on the cold workshop but maintained that on the hot workshop
, explains the group.
As a precaution, we subsequently decided to suspend all production on the culinary workshop.
The levels displayed in these two dishes are 10 bacteria per gram, below the regulatory limit for children over 12 months for whom they were intended.
“Below one year, the thresholds are very low since the children are more fragile, but they are a little higher afterwards”,
specifies Ansamble, which delivers many crèches in the region.
Some 304 establishments spread over ten departments were affected by the delivery of applesauce on March 6.
Vigilance at the slightest fever
The prefectural alert was therefore not extended but an additional communication was sent to parents, in particular from seven crèches which were not initially concerned.
“Since our initial report on the fruit puree, five communications have been sent to the parents concerned”,
recalls Ansamble, insisting on the 100 dishes tested negative.
The incubation period, which generally varies from 10 to 28 days, remains fixed at May 2.
With the risk for children, of developing by then a disease called listeriosis, rare but very dangerous.
Hence the alert for parents, who must remain vigilant about the symptoms, especially since they may seem trivial.
“The disease usually results in a more or less high fever, accompanied by headaches and, sometimes, digestive disorders (nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, etc.), specifies the Ministry of Health
.
Neurological complications (meningitis, encephalitis) can occur and
jeopardize the vital prognosis
of the person affected.
Diagnosis is based on microbiological tests.
The disease is treated by prescribing antibiotics, which are all the more effective the earlier they are administered.
No cases of listeriosis to date
This disease is said to be notifiable for any doctor who diagnoses it because of the health issues it carries.
To date, no case has been reported to the State services, as confirmed by the Departmental Directorate for the Protection of Persons.
Ansamble specifies that the omelet and the semolina must be reheated before ingestion, the bacteria should not have survived.
The group also informed the Too Good To Go platform of this contamination, which sells unsold products and surplus production to individuals at reduced rates, as well as its customers, “including potentially parents of children under 12 months
and pregnant women,”
says Ansamble.
These are among the populations most at risk.
The origin of the contamination has not yet been found.
The kitchen has been able to resume since March 30 in an annex located in Ternay, on the other side of the Lyon area.
In the meantime, the children in nurseries under contract with Ansamble have received prepared meals from the Blédina brand.