[Source: Health Protection Agency, United Kingdom, full page: (LINK). Edited.]
Botulism outbreak in France
9 September 2011
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been made aware of eight cases of botulism in French adults in France. Five of these cases were confirmed in the Vaucluse region of southern France and three were in the Somme, in northern France. All of these cases are now being treated in hospital.
Investigations by French health authorities have found that all of these cases consumed either a green olive and almond tapenade, or a spreadable tomato paste, which are sold under the brand names "Les D?lices de Marie-Claire", "Terre de Mistral" and "Les Secrets d'Ana?s".
All of these products have been tested and it has been confirmed that they are contaminated with the toxin that causes botulism, and have now been withdrawn from sale in France. No cases have been identified in the UK, but anyone who has recently travelled to these areas and purchased any products with these brand names is being urged not to eat them.
Botulism is a rare, but very serious, disease caused by botulinum toxin, which is a poison produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Foodborne botulism is caused by eating food that has been contaminated with botulinum toxin as a result of it being improperly canned or preserved.
Dr Kathie Grant, a botulism expert at the HPA, said "We're strongly advising anyone who has purchased food items with these brand names while in France not to consume them. If you have already eaten any of these recalled products and feel unwell afterwards, it's really important that you seek medical attention straight away, and that you tell your doctor that you've eaten food from these brands."
More information on this outbreak of botulism can be found on the Food Standards Agency website at http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/sep/botulism
Advice for travellers and health professionals can be found on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website at www.nathnac.org
More information on botulism can be found on the HPA website at http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Botulism/
Last reviewed: 9 September 2011
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9 September 2011
The Health Protection Agency (HPA) has been made aware of eight cases of botulism in French adults in France. Five of these cases were confirmed in the Vaucluse region of southern France and three were in the Somme, in northern France. All of these cases are now being treated in hospital.
Investigations by French health authorities have found that all of these cases consumed either a green olive and almond tapenade, or a spreadable tomato paste, which are sold under the brand names "Les D?lices de Marie-Claire", "Terre de Mistral" and "Les Secrets d'Ana?s".
All of these products have been tested and it has been confirmed that they are contaminated with the toxin that causes botulism, and have now been withdrawn from sale in France. No cases have been identified in the UK, but anyone who has recently travelled to these areas and purchased any products with these brand names is being urged not to eat them.
Botulism is a rare, but very serious, disease caused by botulinum toxin, which is a poison produced by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Foodborne botulism is caused by eating food that has been contaminated with botulinum toxin as a result of it being improperly canned or preserved.
Dr Kathie Grant, a botulism expert at the HPA, said "We're strongly advising anyone who has purchased food items with these brand names while in France not to consume them. If you have already eaten any of these recalled products and feel unwell afterwards, it's really important that you seek medical attention straight away, and that you tell your doctor that you've eaten food from these brands."
More information on this outbreak of botulism can be found on the Food Standards Agency website at http://www.food.gov.uk/news/newsarchive/2011/sep/botulism
Advice for travellers and health professionals can be found on the National Travel Health Network and Centre (NaTHNaC) website at www.nathnac.org
More information on botulism can be found on the HPA website at http://www.hpa.org.uk/Topics/InfectiousDiseases/InfectionsAZ/Botulism/
Last reviewed: 9 September 2011
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