Pizzas Buitoni: CEO of Nestlé France announces a fund for victims

According to Christophe Cornu, who has not revealed the amount allocated to the fund, it is not intended to replace any compensation decided by justice.

Le Monde with AFP

While a judicial information is underway in Paris in particular for voluntary homicide and involuntary injuries, Christophe Cornu, the CEO of Nestlé France, comes out of his silence. In an interview posted online Monday evening on the site of Figaro , he declares:” I want to express my deepest compassion today and present My apologies “, before deploring” a human drama, where families and children are affected “.

On March 18, Nestlé closed two pizza production lines. The Northern Prefecture prohibited the activity of the Buitoni factory in Caudry (North) by decree of the 1 er April, after the health authorities announced that they have established a link between the consumption of Fraich pizzas ‘Up and several serious cases of contamination by the bacteria Escherichia coli.

“We have decided to create a support for the victims of the Shu” (hemolytic and uremic syndrome), announces Christophe Cornu, without revealing the amount he will devote to it. “He will not replace compensation that justice could decide. Established 1 er September, he will be administered by a trusted third party, an association that we are choosing. will help help these affected families, who, beyond suffering, are also perhaps faced with financial difficulties, such as loss of income, “he said.

Regarding the origin of contamination, “if we do not exclude at this stage no hypothesis on the origin of the bacteria, we are currently pursuing in -depth investigations on the flours used on the fresh line”, explains the boss of Nestlé France, who underlines that it is, “at present, only a suspicion”, while the analyzes should take another several weeks, according to the daily. “I cannot get involved on a date of end of the investigation, but I agree to give all the answers as soon as we know more,” guarantees the manager.

open investigations

Regarding the restart of the Caudry factory, “the fresh line will not restart until all the light has been made on the origin of the bacteria”, assures Christophe Cornu. “For the other line, which notably produces the pizza oven to Pierre and which has never been concerned by the recall, it is difficult to consider a reopening before November 2022. We work with the authorities on a protocol of restart of The factory. It will answer all the questions raised by the prefectural decree of 1 er April “, promises the leader.

The pizzas of the Fresh’up of Buitoni are suspected of having caused the death of two children. Judicial information has been opened in particular for manslaughter with a person, involuntary injuries concerning fourteen people, placing a product dangerous for health and endangering others. Judicial information is underway in Paris, in particular for manslaughter and involuntary injuries.

/Media reports.