An investigation was opened in Paris at the end of May for unintentional injuries and endangerment in particular, in order to determine the circumstances in which children who consumed Morbier in November 2023 were infected by an E. Coli bacteria, the prosecutor’s office said on Friday. Around ten children had been seriously poisoned and hospitalized. Some spent several months there in a serious condition and this poisoning will leave them with lifelong after-effects.
The Public Health division of the public prosecutor’s office has also opened an investigation into the marketing of a product harmful to health, aggravated deception and failure to inform the prefect of the health risk, the public prosecutor’s office said, confirming information from The Informed.
Several cheeses made from raw milk recalled in December
The courts are looking into “several cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) following an E. Coli STEC infection (pathogenic bacteria) in children linked to the consumption of Morbier cheese,” according to the prosecution. In December, health authorities initiated a recall of several raw milk cheeses manufactured by the Route des Terroirs company following the detection of contamination by this Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria in a daycare center.
Six cases of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) due to this bacteria had been detected in early November in Toulouse. This syndrome can result in kidney failure and is particularly dangerous for children and the elderly. By the end of December 2023, the health of the infected children was no longer a cause for concern.
Another E. Coli case at Nestlé
The same bacteria is at the heart of another legal case, which saw a notable breakthrough this week: Nestlé France announced on Friday that it had been indicted for “involuntary manslaughter, involuntary injuries and deception” in the judicial investigation opened into contaminated Buitoni pizzas suspected of having caused the death of two children in 2022.
A subsidiary operating the Caudry factory (North), where the pizzas were made, has also been indicted, according to a press release from Nestlé France. When contacted, the Paris prosecutor’s office was unable to confirm the charges against Nestlé France and this subsidiary on Friday afternoon.