massive recall of Buitoni frozen pizzas, a “possible link” with serious cases

Health authorities refer to a “possible link” with several serious cases in children, reported since January. The frozen pizza brand Buitoni (Nestlé) announced the immediate recall of the entire Fraîch’up range, Friday March 18, due to the presence of Escherichia coli (E.coli) bacteria.

In a press release, Buitoni asks consumers who bought Fraîch’Up frozen pizzas before Friday not to eat them and to throw them away. The brand has been informed of the presence of E.coli bacteria in the dough of a product.

The resurgence of cases of serious contamination with the E. coli bacterium has caused the death of two children in France since the beginning of the year, Public Health France recently announced. As part of investigations into cases of severe hemolytic-uremic syndromes (HUS) since January 1, health authorities explain that “the analyzes (epidemiological, microbiological and traceability) carried out suggest, at this stage, a possible link with the consumption of frozen pizzas from the Fraîch’Up range”. Thursday, 27 cases of HUS or serious infection linked to E. coli bacteria with similar characteristics, had been identified, “and 31 additional cases are under investigation”according to this press release.

Earlier in the day, the director general in charge of communication of Nestlé France, Pierre-Alexandre Teulié, had told AFP that“there is no proven link between our products and the poisonings that have occurred”adding that the recall was a “Buitoni’s initiative in the name of the precautionary principle”.

Consumers can take a photo of the packaging with the references to be reimbursed by contacting consumer services, the brand adds, apologizing to consumers.

The whole of French territory is affected by the withdrawal, the Dgeneral directorate for competition, consumer affairs and the repression of fraud.