NewsDesk @bactiman63

The French Public Health Agency (Sante Publique France) announced as part of the investigations carried out by the authorities on the cases of serious hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) reported since January 1, 2022, analysis (epidemiological, microbiological and traceability) carried out suggest, at this stage, a possible link with the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Fraîch’Up range of the Buitoni brand.

Fraîch’Up range, Buitoni brand

Investigations are continuing to determine the origin of the contamination, including for other products, as well as epidemiological investigations in order to establish potential links with all the cases detected on the territory since the beginning of January 2022.

Consequently, as a precautionary measure, and pending additional analyses, the company is proceeding today with the withdrawal-recall of all the pizzas in the Fraîch’Up range, of the Buitoni brand, marketed on this day.

As of March 17, 2022, 27 cases of HUS or serious infection, linked to E. coli bacteria with similar characteristics, have been identified, and 31 additional cases are under investigation. These 58 cases occurred in 12 regions of metropolitan France: Hauts-de-France (13 cases), New Aquitaine (9 cases), Pays de la Loire (9 cases), Brittany (6 cases), Ile-de-France ( 6 cases), Grand Est (5 cases), Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes (3 cases), Bourgogne Franche-Comté (2 cases), Center Val-de-Loire (2 cases) Normandy (1 case), Occitanie (1 case ) and Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur (1 case). The sick children, aged 1 to 18 years with a median age of 5 ½ years, presented symptoms between 10/01/2022 and 10/03/2022. Two children died.

Public Health France, in conjunction with the National Reference Centers for E. coli , the Directorate General for Food, the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud, and in coordination with the Directorate General for Health, is continuing to investigate all cases of pediatric HUS reported since January 1, 2022 on national territory.

People who hold Buitoni brand Fraîch’Up pizzas are asked not to eat them and to destroy them .

Provided with a photo of the packaging with the product references (Best Before Date, bar code number, batch number, production time), consumers can call the telephone number provided by the company to get a refund: 0800 22 32 42.

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People who, within 3-4 days after consumption of the above products (10 days maximum), present with diarrhea, abdominal pain or vomiting, are invited to consult their doctor quickly, notifying him of this consumption and the reminder. products by the company and to retain the product packaging.

If there are no symptoms there is no need to worry.

Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) is an infectious disease most often of food origin, rare in France, but serious.

Each year, about 160 children with HUS are notified to Public Health France, which has set up a surveillance system (nephro-pediatrics services) for this disease since 1996.

In children, this syndrome is most often caused by an infection with bacteria belonging to the E. coli family. The latter manifests itself within 3-4 days after contamination (10 days maximum) by diarrhea often accompanied by blood, abdominal pain and sometimes vomiting which can progress, after about a week, to a severe form of the infection. (HUS) in about 10% of children.

The risk of developing HUS is higher at the extreme ages of life, especially in young children. Affected people then show signs of great fatigue, pallor, a decrease in the volume of urine, which becomes darker, and sometimes convulsions. Treatment in hospital may include, among other things, blood transfusions and/or dialysis. It is therefore necessary to consult a doctor immediately in the event of suggestive symptoms.