Two people have died and 10 others have fallen ill in a Listeria outbreak in France linked to meat products.
The Directorate General for Food (DGAL) and Santé publique France identified 12 cases with positive samples taken between mid-September 2025 and Jan. 23, 2026, including seven in January but none since mid-February. All patients have been hospitalized.
Eleven of the sick people are older than 65, and the median age of patients is 81 years old. Seven are women and five are men. Two deaths have been reported in people over the age of 75 with underlying health conditions. Nine patients live in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, while Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Normandie, and Nouvelle-Aquitaine all have one each.
In February, epidemiological investigations identified several patients who had consumed pâté en croûte. Traceability investigations pointed to products marketed by the Drôme Ardèche Tradition company, based in Bourg-de-Péage.
Product recall
An inspection of the plant was carried out, and official samples were taken by the Drôme Departmental Directorate for Population Protection. Based on findings from this visit, an order suspending operations was issued, and the company announced a withdrawal and recall of all products manufactured at the site.
Analysis by the National Reference Centre (CNR) Listeria at Institut Pasteur confirmed in March that strains isolated from products made at the site were genetically similar to those isolated from sick people. This confirms the link between patients and the company's products.
A list of products affected by the recall can be found on the website RappelConso. It includes caillettes, pâtés en croûte, and other cooked charcuterie sold under the brands Drôme salaisons or Jules Courtial. Items have a code of FR 26.057.001 EU and were sold between Jan. 17 and Feb. 28.
France has seen a steady increase in Listeria infections since 2021 with 619 cases reported in 2024.
