Luxembourg is one of the countries affected by the massive recall launched on Friday by Buitoni after Escherichia coli bacteria were found on a range of its pizzas.
Upon enquiry by our colleagues from RTL 5 Minutes, the Ministry for Consumer Protection confirmed that Luxembourg was also concerned by this recall. Initially, the recall only concerned pizzas sold in France.
In fact, the French health authorities have mentioned "a possible link" with serious cases that caused the death of two children in France. On Saturday midday, the Ministry of Health informed our colleagues from RTL 5 Minutes that products from the Fraîch'Up range had been distributed in the Grand Duchy.
The Ministry specified that they were informed of the recall by Auchan Luxembourg, adding that "as a major manufacturer with multiple distribution channels is concerned, it cannot be excluded at this stage that other distribution chains may be affected in a second phase".
According to the Luxembourgish health authorities, 6,318 "sales units" are currently affected by this recall procedure. They specify that "Buitoni's entire Fraîch'Up range (Quattro formaggi, Bolognese, Royale…) is affected in Luxembourg".
The Ministry of Health launched the "tracing work" on Saturday morning while the Food Safety Authority published an alert on its website, specifying the batches and barcodes of the products that should absolutely not be consumed.
The Government Food Safety Commissioner's Office warns that Escherichia coli can cause food poisoning which can occur within a week of consumption. This can result in gastrointestinal upset and cramping.
"These symptoms may be aggravated in young children, immunocompromised individuals, and the elderly," the health authorities explain. Anyone who has consumed these products is advised to consult a doctor.
For its part, Buitoni announced that consumers could take a photo of the packaging with the references to get their money back. To do so, they would simply have to contact the consumer service.
At this stage, the health authorities have not discovered any cases of E. coli infection from the Buitoni pizzas in Luxembourg.
