the restaurateur indicted after “breaches” of hygiene rules

The owner of a restaurant in Bordeaux (Gironde) was indicted on Wednesday December 6 in the investigation opened in September into around fifteen cases of botulism, including one fatality, linked to the consumption of canned sardines, announced the parquet.

The investigations made it possible to highlight “various breaches of health hygiene rules by the manager of the establishment, particularly with regard to the preparation of artisanal preserves”wrote Frédérique Porterie, public prosecutor in Bordeaux, in a press release.

Fifteen clients identified as “suspicious cases”

The manager of the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar, placed in police custody on Tuesday, was referred on Wednesday for indictment for “manslaughter and involuntary injury”, “endangering the lives of others”, ” failure to assist a person in danger” and “selling corrupt or toxic foodstuffs”. The prosecution specifies that it has “required his placement under judicial supervision with a ban on carrying out (…) any activity related to catering”. The manager risks between two and five years in prison and a fine of 45,000 to 600,000 euros.

A 32-year-old woman, of Greek nationality, died at her home in Vincennes on September 12 (Val-de-Marne). The other 14 victims suffered from “various pathologies”, according to the prosecution. In total, 15 clients, the majority of whom were foreigners, were identified as “suspected cases of botulism” after eating homemade canned sardines between September 4 and 10 in this tourist restaurant in the center of Bordeaux. The city then hosted two matches of the 2023 Rugby World Cup.