French botulism cases linked to Spanish product

French health authorities have confirmed two cases of botulism following the consumption of a product made in Spain.

Results of the investigation by the General Directorate for Food (DGAL) were shared with Spanish authorities. The two patients live in Brittany and ate tortillas produced in Spain by a factory belonging to the Palacios group. The consumed batch expired on Sept. 13. The tortillas are also known as Spanish omelet and include potato, onion, and egg.

It is the second time in recent years that products from the company have been linked to botulism cases.

Recall in France
A withdrawal and recall of several items produced by Palacios and sold in supermarkets throughout France has been ordered.

Products with the name Tortilla aux oignons 500-grams were sold in stores of Intermarche and Netto, under the brand “Itineraire de nos saveurs.” Tortilla fraîche aux oignons and Tortilla fraîche nature 500-grams were sold in Carrefour stores.

Analyses by the Institut Pasteur’s National Reference Center for Botulism confirmed the presence of Clostridium botulinum in the remains of the product consumed by one of the patients.

The Spanish Agency for Food Safety and Nutrition (AESAN) said it was informed by French authorities through the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) of two cases of botulism linked to consumption of food under the Itinéraire des Saveurs brand.

AESAN has forwarded all information related to the case to local authorities through the Coordinated System for the Rapid Exchange of Information (SCIRI). As yet, there is no evidence the affected batch was sold in Spain.

Previous incident
In 2023, 12 cases of botulism were reported. Patients ranged in age from 23 to 77 and seven were men. Two cases each were reported in Italy and Norway in people who had been to Spain. Seven people were hospitalized and four were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit. Hospital stays ranged from 11 to 69 days. There was a suggestion that consumers had not correctly followed the handling and storage recommendations.

In July 2023, Grupo Empresarial Palacios Alimentación announced a withdrawal of the implicated items and the temporary suspension of production. Operations resumed in August. The presence of Clostridium botulinum or any toxins were not detected in samples taken. However, items consumed by patients were not available for analysis.

Botulinum poisoning is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, they can occur as soon as six hours or up to 10 days later. It can cause sudden death because of its ability to paralyze muscles used for breathing.

People who have consumed these products are urged to be extremely vigilant and to consult a doctor if they experience symptoms such as vision problems, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, difficulty speaking or trouble breathing. Consumers who still have the products are asked not to eat or open them, and to throw them away.

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