The boss of Nestlé France Christophe Cornu presents his “apologies” to the families of children affected by contamination linked to the consumption of frozen Buitoni pizzas, in an interview posted online Monday evening on the Figaro site.
He also announced the creation of a “victim support fund”. “Today I want to express my deepest compassion and apologize,” said Christophe Cornu in this interview, deploring “a human tragedy, where families and children are affected”.
On March 18, Nestlé closed two pizza production lines. The Nord prefecture banned the activity of the Buitoni factory in Caudry (Nord) by order of April 1, after the health authorities announced that they had established a link between the consumption of Fraîch’Up pizzas and several serious cases of contamination. by Escherichia coli.
“We have decided to create a support fund for victims of HUS” (Hemolytic and Uremic Syndrome), announces Christophe Cornu, without revealing the amount he will devote to it.
An association will be created
“It will in no way replace the compensation that justice may decide. Set up on September 1, it will be administered by a trusted third party, an association that we are in the process of choosing. It will make it possible to provide assistance to these affected families, who, beyond the suffering, may also be faced with financial difficulties, such as loss of income, ”he specifies.
Pizzas from Buitoni’s Fraîch’Up range are suspected of having caused the death of two children. A judicial investigation was opened in particular for involuntary homicide against a person, involuntary injuries concerning 14 people, placing on the market of a product dangerous to health and endangering others.
A judicial investigation is underway in Paris, in particular for manslaughter and involuntary injuries.