700 Fall Sick After Airbus Christmas Dinner, Described As Worse Than Giving Birth
700 fall sick after Airbus Christmas dinner, described as worse than giving birth. A Christmas dinner intended to delight 2,600 workers at Airbus Atlantic, the French aerospace group, took an unfortunate turn as hundreds of staff fell ill with gastroenteritis.
Author:Velma BattleReviewer:Michael RachalDec 25, 20234K Shares185.7K Views
700 fall sick after Airbus Christmas dinner, described as worse than giving birth. A Christmas dinner intended to delight 2,600 workers at Airbus Atlantic, the French aerospace group, took an unfortunate turn as hundreds of staff fell ill with gastroenteritis. The company's internal restaurant, located at its Montoir-de-Bretagne site in the Loire-Atlantique region of western France, organized the festive feast, prompting healthauthorities to launch an investigation into the cause of the widespread illness.
The menu boasted gourmet offerings, featuring delicacies such as foie gras, scallops, lobster, and tournedos. To sweeten the occasion, desserts included ice-cream logs and hazelnut and chocolate mousse, all at a reasonable cost of €15 (£13) per person. Despite the culinary allure, the unexpected outbreak has raised concerns, and authorities are working to determine the source of the gastroenteritis that marred the holiday celebration for the Airbus Atlantic workforce.
Following a seasonal dinner on December 14, a significant number of workers—around 700—exhibited "clinical signs of vomiting and/or diarrhea." The majority of affected individuals reported falling ill within 24 to 48 hours after the meal, prompting health officials to investigate a potential mass poisoning.
The cause of the outbreak remains undetermined, with authorities exploring whether it resulted from a bacterium in the food or an exceptionally contagious gastroenteritis virus. Ongoing investigations aim to shed light on the source of the illness, and results are anticipated next week. To aid in the inquiry, a questionnaire has been distributed to all attendees of the dinner.
Nolwenn, an employee who experienced the adverse effects, shared her ordeal with Ouest-France, stating, "I had colic and headaches like I’d never had before. It was worse than giving birth."
The secretary of the Airbus Atlantic works committee, Jean-Claude Iribarren, clarified that the company's canteen had prepared the meal. He explained, "As we do every year, we organized a Christmas dinner for 2,600 people with a lot of local suppliers."
“„People have been a little hasty about the causes. We are obliged to keep samples of every product served in the restaurant. They will be analyzed by the ARS [health authorities]. The investigation will take several more days.- Jean-Claude Iribarren
Conclusion
According to a spokesperson for Airbus, no individuals have experienced severe illness in connection with the incident. The health authority has taken charge of the investigation to determine the cause of the outbreak. Airbus Atlantic, a subsidiary of the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, Airbus, has a workforce of 15,000 spread across five countries.
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