A young girl has died and seven other children have fallen seriously ill after consuming contaminated meat purchased from butcher shops in the French region of [Insert Region Name, if known]. The tragedy has sparked a major health investigation, with authorities racing to identify the source of the food poisoning and prevent further illnesses. The girl, whose age has not yet been publicly released, passed away [mention timeframe, e.g., earlier this week/yesterday] after suffering from severe symptoms consistent with food poisoning. The seven other children, all reportedly under the age of [Insert age range, if known], are currently hospitalized and receiving treatment for similar symptoms, including [list common symptoms such as vomiting, diarrhea, fever, etc.]. Their conditions are reported to be [describe severity of conditions, e.g., ranging from stable to critical]. The investigation is focusing on meat products sourced from several butcher shops in the region. [Insert details about the types of meat involved if known, e.g., Preliminary reports suggest that minced beef/pork/lamb may be implicated]. Health officials are working to trace the origin of the meat, examining suppliers and slaughterhouses across the supply chain. Tests are underway to pinpoint the specific bacteria or toxin responsible for the outbreak. Consumers who recently purchased meat from butcher shops in the affected area are urged to [Insert advice from health authorities, e.g., exercise caution, check the meat for signs of spoilage, and contact local health authorities if they experience any symptoms of food poisoning]. The local authorities have also [Insert actions taken by authorities, e.g., issued public health warnings, temporarily closed some butcher shops for investigation, implemented stricter hygiene regulations]. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are expected to emerge as authorities gather more information. The tragic death of the young girl highlights the serious risks associated with foodborne illnesses and underscores the importance of rigorous food safety standards throughout the meat production and distribution chain.
Two butcher shops in northern France have temporarily closed after a child died from severe food poisoning, said local authorities on Friday.
Eight children have come down with severe food poisoning since June 12 after consuming meat products from the two businesses in the northern city of Saint-Quentin.
Five of them contracted a rare foodborne illness called hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), including a 12-year-old girl who died.
HUS in most cases occurs after someone ingests , commonly found in the gut of humans and warm-blooded animals. HUS can lead to kidney failure, permanent health problems and even death, .
It is "impossible at this stage to confirm that the consumption of products from these two establishments is the source of the contamination," local authorities said.
But the children all consumed meat or meat products from these two butchers a few days before symptoms appeared, it said.
Authorities have closed the two shops as a precautionary measure while samples from both stores are tested.
The authorities said they should have the results "early next week" and an investigation has been launched into where the meat came from.
HUS affects between 100 and 165 children in France each year, according to the country's public health agency.
E. coli outbreaks have also made headlines recently in the U.S. Earlier this month, the Department of Agriculture's Food Safety and Inspection Service announced that that was distributed nationwide may be contaminated with E. coli.
In November, a carrot recall was issued by California grower after nearly 40 cases were recorded in 18 states. At least 15 people were hospitalized and one person died, the .
The month before that, an outbreak linked to killed one person in and affected at least , according to the CDC.
