Bar manager charged over deadly botulism outbreak in France
A restaurant manager in France was charged Wednesday with involuntary murder over a botulism outbreak that killed one person and sickened 15 others who ate homemade sardines at his organic wine bar.
The victims, most of them foreigners, fell ill in early September after eating at the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar, an establishment in central Bordeaux that attracted dozens of tourists in town for the Rugby World Cup.
French authorities blamed botulism – an extremely rare but potentially life-threatening disease – and traced the outbreak to improperly prepared oil-based sardine preserves served at the wine bar.
One of the victims, a Greek citizen, died and several others were admitted to intensive care. The victims, most of them in their thirties and forties, also included citizens from Canada, Germany, Ireland, the United Kingdom and the United States.
Frédérique Porterie, the public prosecutor in Bordeaux, said on Wednesday that the restaurant manager is now under formal investigation and that he has been charged with involuntary murder and injuries caused by deliberate failure to comply with safety regulations, endangering the lives of others , failure to assist a person in danger and the sale of contaminated or poisonous food products.
The man, who has not been named by authorities, could face a prison sentence of up to five years and a significant fine.
Ms Porterie said in a statement that investigators had discovered “several breaches of health and hygiene rules” by the manager, “particularly in relation to the preparation of homemade jams” sold to customers.
She did not elaborate. But French officials said in September that although health violations had never been reported at the establishment in the past, the manager used a “highly artisanal” method for making the sardine preserves.
The man was taken into custody for questioning on Tuesday, Ms Porterie said. Prosecutors have asked for his release only under strict conditions, mainly a ban on operating an eatery.
The case is now being heard by special magistrates who have wide investigative powers and who subject suspects to formal investigation if they believe the evidence points to serious misconduct.
According to the Centers for Diseases Control and PreventionBotulism is caused by a toxin that attacks the body’s nerves and paralyzes the muscles. Symptoms include difficulty breathing or swallowing, slurred speech, blurred vision, vomiting and diarrhea.
The bacteria that make the botulinum toxin are found naturally and are usually harmless, according to the CDC. But foods that are not canned, preserved or fermented properly can provide the right conditions for bacteria to produce deadly toxins. Most patients who develop botulism recover completely, but this may take several months.