Pathfinder
Editor, Senior Moderator
Translation Google
Maine-et-Loire: Six people hospitalized with botulism, carrots implicated
According to the ARS, these are retired couples who shared, at different times, a carrot cake made from carrots put in jars in a traditional way.
By Le Parisien
July 16 , 2025 at 11:57 a.m. , modified July 16, 2025 at 12:37 p.m.
Botulism cases in the Cholet area (Maine-et-Loire). According to the Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS), "at this stage, six people have presented severe symptoms between July 7 and 14, requiring hospitalization," it said in a press release on Wednesday.
Botulism is an acute neurological condition caused by an extremely powerful toxin produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, the ARS points out on its website . "These bacteria only thrive in the absence of oxygen," which is why the foods most often involved are vacuum-packed, canned, and home-made or artisanal cured foods .
In the case of the poisonings in Cholet, "investigations carried out with the sick people and their relatives point towards the consumption of carrots put in jars in a traditional way," the ARS indicates in its press release, which specifies that none of these foods have been commercialized.
The ARS tells us that these are "couples of retired people who shared, at different times, a carrot cake made from carrots put in a jar by one of the couples." It is continuing its research "to find out how many people within the family and friends circle also consumed these foods."
According to the ARS, botulism is a "potentially serious" illness that occurs after an incubation period of 12 to 72 hours on average, when it is foodborne. While people who have shared the same food may experience identical symptoms, their severity can vary. This can range from digestive problems that may be fleeting to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or even diarrhea .
There are also more serious risks of eye damage (accommodation defect, blurred vision), dry mouth accompanied by impaired swallowing or even speech and neurological symptoms (more or less severe paralysis of the muscles).
While botulism is fatal in 5 to 10% of cases, mortality is high when treatment is not immediate. Treatment of botulism is primarily symptomatic and, in severe cases, requires intensive respiratory care with assisted ventilation.
The ARS reminds that when opening a canned or jarred product, "if there is any doubt, in particular an abnormal odor or color, if the can does not make a noise when opened, if the can is swollen, the product should be thrown away and not consumed."
https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-div...use-16-07-2025-NPW4RPCUXVGATEDUKUFCJTTIIE.php
Maine-et-Loire: Six people hospitalized with botulism, carrots implicated
According to the ARS, these are retired couples who shared, at different times, a carrot cake made from carrots put in jars in a traditional way.
By Le Parisien
July 16 , 2025 at 11:57 a.m. , modified July 16, 2025 at 12:37 p.m.
Botulism cases in the Cholet area (Maine-et-Loire). According to the Pays de la Loire Regional Health Agency (ARS), "at this stage, six people have presented severe symptoms between July 7 and 14, requiring hospitalization," it said in a press release on Wednesday.
Botulism is an acute neurological condition caused by an extremely powerful toxin produced by a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum, the ARS points out on its website . "These bacteria only thrive in the absence of oxygen," which is why the foods most often involved are vacuum-packed, canned, and home-made or artisanal cured foods .
In the case of the poisonings in Cholet, "investigations carried out with the sick people and their relatives point towards the consumption of carrots put in jars in a traditional way," the ARS indicates in its press release, which specifies that none of these foods have been commercialized.
The ARS tells us that these are "couples of retired people who shared, at different times, a carrot cake made from carrots put in a jar by one of the couples." It is continuing its research "to find out how many people within the family and friends circle also consumed these foods."
According to the ARS, botulism is a "potentially serious" illness that occurs after an incubation period of 12 to 72 hours on average, when it is foodborne. While people who have shared the same food may experience identical symptoms, their severity can vary. This can range from digestive problems that may be fleeting to abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, or even diarrhea .
There are also more serious risks of eye damage (accommodation defect, blurred vision), dry mouth accompanied by impaired swallowing or even speech and neurological symptoms (more or less severe paralysis of the muscles).
While botulism is fatal in 5 to 10% of cases, mortality is high when treatment is not immediate. Treatment of botulism is primarily symptomatic and, in severe cases, requires intensive respiratory care with assisted ventilation.
The ARS reminds that when opening a canned or jarred product, "if there is any doubt, in particular an abnormal odor or color, if the can does not make a noise when opened, if the can is swollen, the product should be thrown away and not consumed."
https://www.leparisien.fr/faits-div...use-16-07-2025-NPW4RPCUXVGATEDUKUFCJTTIIE.php