Europe 1 with AFP 3:36 p.m., March 30, 2022

There is a link between pizzas from the Buitoni brand (Nestlé) and certain recent cases of contamination with the bacterium Escherichia coli in French children, health authorities announced on Wednesday.

These recall the need to destroy the products concerned.

Analyzes "have confirmed a link between several cases and the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Fraîch'Up range of the Buitoni brand contaminated with Escherichia coli bacteria", announced in a press release the General Directorate of Health, which depends on the government. , while a massive recall of these pizzas has already been underway for two weeks.

Since the end of February, France has experienced a resurgence of cases of haemolytic and uremic syndromes (HUS) linked to contamination with E. coli.

These cases, which cause kidney failure, occur in children.

Two of them died as a result of these contaminations.

In total, according to the latest count established on Wednesday, 41 serious cases have been identified and 34 additional are being assessed.

Contaminations throughout France

These 75 cases occurred in 12 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (16 cases), New Aquitaine (11 cases), Pays de la Loire (10 cases), Ile-de-France (9 cases), Brittany ( 7 cases), Grand Est (5 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (4 cases), Center Val-de-Loire (4 cases), Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (3 cases), Bourgogne Franche-Comté ( 2 cases), Normandy (2 cases) and Occitanie (2 cases).

Until now, the health authorities considered that there was a "possible" link between these contaminations and the pizzas of the Fraîch'Up range.

They had therefore already carried out a massive recall in mid-March, asking consumers to destroy these products.

From now on, this link is therefore established with certain contaminations, even if the authorities do not specify if this is the case for those which caused the two deaths.

Symptoms appear 15 days after consumption

They recall the need to consult a doctor in the event of the appearance, within ten days after eating the pizza, of diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting.

The consultation is also essential if, within a fortnight, signs of great fatigue, pallor, or a decrease in the volume of urine, which become darker, appear.

"In the absence of symptoms within 15 days of consumption, it is also reminded that there is no need to worry," concludes the DGS.