A woman has died of botulism after eating sardines at a top-rated wine bar popular with tourists in Bordeaux, southwestern France, reports The Times.
Twelve other people have been hospitalised, most of them foreign holidaymakers.
Those being treated include at least one Irish person as well as Americans, Canadians and Germans, said Dr Benjamin Clouzeau of Pellegrin hospital in Bordeaux. At least seven are in intensive care.
Mathieu Nguyen of the regional health agency said that all the cases had been traced back to the Tchin Tchin Wine Bar. “Those affected had eaten an artisanal dish containing sardines made at the restaurant,” he said.
Specialising in wine tastings and pairings, Tchin Tchin, which means “cheers” in French, has a website in English that highlights glowing reviews in Forbes magazine and Decanter, a wine journal.