Food products Formal investigation into Nestlé France regarding frozen pizzas

Nestlé France and one of its subsidiaries were formally investigated this week as part of the investigation into the Buitoni pizza scandal. The pizzas contaminated with the bacterium E.coli are suspected of having killed two children.

The investigations against the subsidiary SPAC (Société des Produits Alimentaires de Caudry) and Nestlé France were initiated on July 2 and 4 of this year respectively. Nestlé France confirmed corresponding media reports to AWP.

The reasons were not explained in detail. A Nestlé spokeswoman emphasized in a statement that the criminal investigation is still ongoing and that no verdict has yet been reached. A date for a possible trial has also not yet been set.

Since May 2022, proceedings have been ongoing against Nestlé in Paris for two counts of involuntary manslaughter and 14 counts of involuntary bodily harm. Nestlé reiterates earlier statements that the company is cooperating fully with the authorities.

Demand for Buitoni pizzas fell sharply as a result of the scandal, so in spring 2023 Nestlé announced the closure of the factory where the contaminated frozen pizzas were produced. The plant has since been sold to the Italian company Italpizza.