An investigation was opened at the end of May in Paris 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 E.coli bacteria, the prosecutor's office said on Friday.
The public health department of the prosecution also opened the investigation for placing on the market a product harmful to health, aggravated deception and failure to inform the prefect of the risk to health, specified the public ministry, confirming information from L 'Informed.
Justice is interested in “several cases of hemolytic and uremic syndrome (HUS) following an infection with E. Coli STEC (pathogenic bacteria) in children linked to the consumption of morbier”, according to the prosecution.
In December, the health authorities initiated the recall of several cheeses made from raw milk manufactured by the company Route des Terroirs following the detection of contamination by this Escherichia coli bacteria (E.coli) in a nursery.
Six cases of hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) due to this bacteria were detected in early November in Toulouse. This syndrome can result in renal failure and is particularly dangerous for children and the elderly.
By the end of December 2023, the health of infected children no longer caused concern.
The same bacteria is at the heart of another legal case, which saw notable progress this week: Nestle France announced on Friday that it had been indicted for “involuntary manslaughter, involuntary injuries and deception” in the judicial investigation opened on the Buitoni pizzas contaminated and suspected of having caused the death of two children in 2022.
A subsidiary operating the Caudry factory (North), where the pizzas were manufactured, was also indicted, according to a press release from Nestle France.
When requested, the Paris prosecutor's office was unable on Friday afternoon to confirm the charges against Nestle France and this subsidiary.
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