UK and France on alert after botulism outbreak
The scare surfaced late last week when five members of the same family Vaucluse in Southern France were hospitalised and later diagnosed with botulism after eating a jar of green tapenade made by the company La Ruche (The Beehive), based in Cavaillon.
The products are branded as Les Délices de Marie Claire, Terre de Mistral and Les Secrets d'Anaïs.
'Many jars in circulation'
They have been on sale in shops and markets particularly in the Provence, Cote D’Azur region since 31 May this year with a best before date of 16 December 2012 and lot number 112005.
Local health authorities said three of the family members were in a serious condition.
A further three cases have also been reported in the Somme district, in the north of the country.
Botulism is a rare but serious illness that causes muscle weakness and breathing problems, and can be fatal.
The French Government agency Direction Générale de la Concurrence, de la Consommation et de la Répression des Fraudes (DGCCRF) said health authorities had instructed the company to withdraw all its product but warned: “However, many jars are still in circulation, posing a severe risk to
those who consume [them].”
UK warning
Concern spread outside France when UK Food Standards Agency yesterday issued a warning against eating the spreads, made with olives, basil, sun-dried tomatoes, bell-peppers, anchovies, tuna, chickpeas, artichokes and aubergines,
The agency said that while are not distributed in the UK, they were available via the internet or could have been purchased by holiday makers.
It urged anyone who thinks they may have eaten these products to seek immediate medical help.
