The events took place in September 2011. A few days apart, in the communes of Rustrel (84) and Amiens (80), several people were hospitalized in emergency, victims of paralysis of the face and upper limbs, and vision disturbances.
According to doctors, it is botulism : a rare but not exceptional disease (there are 20 to 30 cases each year in France) which most often occurs after a food poisoning, linked to preserves made in a traditional way.
When food is improperly sterilized, bacteria such as Clostridium botulinum can grow in it. After an incubation period that can last from 12 to 36 hours, the latter produces a very powerful toxin (botulinum toxin type A) which causes descending paralysis, vision disorders, breathing difficulties … Botulism is fatal in 5% to 10% of cases.
The authorities quickly go back to the origin of the two infectious outbreaks: it is an artisanal cannery called “La Ruche” and located in Cavaillon (84). The manager, Maurice Gremeret (65), badly sterilized his preserves, which allowed the development of the bacteria and then the appearance of the toxin.
“Two years from retirement, I’m not going to invest in an autoclave”
This Monday, June 13, 2016, Maurice Gremeret was sentenced to 18 months suspended prison sentence by the Marseille Criminal Court (13). He was found guilty of “deceiving goods causing danger to human health and unintentional injury”.
Six victims became civil parties: 5 years later, some are still suffering from after-effects. Maurice Gremeret will also have to pay € 60,000 in damages to 5 of the most affected victims.
In her indictment, prosecutor Sylvie Marchelli, for her part, pointed to the manager’s “amateurism”. In 2007, he explained to the inspectors of thehygiene : “I am two years from retirement, I am not going to invest in an autoclave (a sterilization tool for home-made preserves)”. Today, it is a decision that is costing him dear …
