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Paris Opens Criminal Inquiry Into Aisne E. Coli Outbreak

The probe seeks to determine criminal accountability for alleged food safety breaches that sickened about 30 people in mid-June, including one fatality.

Overview

  • The judicial investigation has been launched under charges of aggravated involuntary manslaughter, endangering life and aggravated deception.
  • Two investigative judges from the Paris public health prosecution division have been assigned to oversee the case.
  • Mid-June infections affected roughly 32 people—mostly children aged 11 months to 12 years—with one 11-year-old girl dying after developing hemolytic-uremic syndrome.
  • Authorities ordered preventive closures of six local butcheries after trace-back tests and genomic sequencing linked patient strains to contaminated meat samples.
  • Several families have filed civil and criminal complaints alleging failures in inspection and traceability within complex meat supply chains.