E. coli poisonings in Saint-Quentin: six butchers examined for involuntary manslaughter
Six butchers in Saint-Quentin were examined on 25 September 2026 following the death of an 11-year-old girl and around thirty cases of E. coli poisoning in 2025.
Six butchers examined after death of Elise, 11, in Saint-Quentin
Six butchers were examined on 25 September 2026 as part of an investigation into a series of food poisonings caused by the bacterium Escherichia coli that occurred in Saint-Quentin (Aisne) in June 2025, reports france3-regions.franceinfo.fr. Among the charges brought are involuntary manslaughter, endangering the life of others, unlawful slaughter of animals outside an abattoir, receiving stolen goods and fraud resulting in danger to human or animal health.
The Paris prosecutor's office, whose public health division has led the investigation since August 2025, clarified that ten butchers had been placed in police custody before six of them, managers or employees, were examined. All were placed under judicial supervision, including notably a ban on contacting the other examined individuals and on carrying out butcher work involving the handling of raw meat.
Around thirty victims, including a deceased girl
In June 2025, around thirty people — mostly children aged eleven months to twelve years — were hospitalised in Saint-Quentin, Amiens, Lille and Reims with infections caused by the E. coli bacterium. Among them was Elise Gabert, an 11-year-old from Axon, who died after consuming contaminated meat. Initial conclusions from the investigation established "a close epidemiological link" between the first cases and six butcher shops that were preventively closed in Saint-Quentin.
Her parents, Audrey and Morgan Gabert, reacted to the examination by describing the announcement as an "important step". "We have been suffering since 16 June 2025 and we can only be pleased today that the people, who are presumed responsible for our daughter's death, can themselves be brought into the proceedings," they stated.
An organised meat trafficking operation, according to the victims' lawyer
Beyond the sale of contaminated meat, the lawyer representing Elise's parents, Angélique Opovin, points to a case with wider ramifications: "We are not just talking about a sale of contaminated meat but an organised meat trafficking operation in the region at that time." She stresses the need to identify each link in the chain, not just the final seller.
Furthermore, the administrative tribunal of Amiens has requested that the Aisne prefecture re-examine its decision to suspend the butcher counter's activity at the TMS Destock - TMS Market supermarket. The prefecture has fifteen days to do so.
Families await a trial
More than a year after the events, several families of victims are still seeking answers about each person's responsibilities. Audrey Gabert acknowledges that the road ahead remains long: "We know that this road towards truth and justice for our child will be long."
Source: TF1 Info