A woman has died and 12 people have been hospitalised after a botulism outbreak linked to sardines served at a restaurant in Bordeaux, south-western France. The French health authority DGS confirmed that the restaurant had preserved the sardines itself.
The deceased, a 32-year-old woman, has not yet had her nationality confirmed. Among those hospitalised, five are on respiratory support. The affected individuals include nationals from the US, Ireland, and Canada. One German national and a resident of Barcelona, Spain, have returned to their home countries for treatment.
All cases are connected to the Tchin Tchin wine bar, where the victims dined between 4 and 10 September. The DGS stated that all consumed sardines stored in jars by the restaurant owner. Botulism, caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, can be deadly in 5-10% of cases due to a toxin produced when preserved food is insufficiently sterilised.
Local newspaper Sud-Ouest quoted the restaurateur as saying he had discarded some jars of sardines due to a strong smell, but others 'appeared in good condition and were served up to customers.' The DGS is conducting tests at the restaurant and has not ruled out further cases, given the incubation period of up to several days. Botulism can cause muscle paralysis lasting weeks, with respiratory muscles being the most immediate risk.
