A 27-year-old woman has died in southern France after eating dried morel mushrooms purchased from a B&M store, prompting a recall of the product while authorities investigate the cause of death.
Marie-Lou developed severe gastrointestinal symptoms just hours after consuming the fungi. She contacted her regional poison control centre and was directed to the nearest hospital, where she received emergency treatment. Her condition deteriorated, and she died the following day at Montpellier University Hospital.
Investigation and autopsy findings
France's health ministry said Marie-Lou had no known underlying health conditions, though officials have stressed that a direct link between the mushrooms, her symptoms and her death has not yet been confirmed. The Montpellier public prosecutor has opened an investigation into the cause of her death, with inquiries entrusted to the city's national police.
An autopsy carried out at Montpellier's forensic institute confirmed that Marie-Lou had consumed the mushrooms. Specialist toxicology tests are now being conducted to establish the medical cause of death, which occurred on 2 November. Marie-Lou's family said in a fundraiser: "A judicial investigation is underway. Toxicological analysis will help us understand what happened, even if it will solve nothing."
Product recall details
The mushrooms believed to have been eaten by Marie-Lou were dried morels sold at French branches of discount retailer B&M. A recall has since been issued for 60g packs of Champibon dried morels carrying the barcode 3760201609743. The warning covers all lots with a best-before date of 1 December 2029 sold across France between 12 October and 3 November.
French consumer officials said the product may have been contaminated with a toxin capable of causing diarrhoea and vomiting within hours. In rare cases, the resulting dehydration can become severe. Authorities have warned customers not to eat the affected mushrooms, adding that they may remain toxic even after cooking.
Following notification from the authorities, B&M France voluntarily recalled the packs as a precaution. France's official RappelConso service said the recall was prompted by the probable contamination of a batch with a toxin capable of causing food poisoning. The recall notice does not establish that the product caused Marie-Lou's death, and there has been no finding of wrongdoing against B&M.
Family's response and funeral arrangements
Marie-Lou's family had originally planned for her to be cremated and her ashes placed in a family vault. But they said the court had prevented the cremation because investigators may require further samples during the inquiry. Her sister, Julia Robert, wrote: "We are going to lay Marie-Lou in the earth like a plant. She would have liked that."
The family has launched an appeal to meet funeral costs estimated at approximately €15,000. A public ceremony is due to take place at Grammont Funeral Home in Montpellier at 10am on Friday, 13 November, followed by a private burial.
