France

At Least 700 Ill After Airbus Christmas Dinner

DEC 25 2023·Updated FEB 3 2024

Story

Image credit: Unsplash

The Facts

According to French health officials, Airbus Atlantic's Christmas dinner for its employees in western France has left over 700 staff members suffering from vomiting and diarrhea. However, the aerospace group has claimed only "around 100" had taken ill.
BBC News
The gourmet dinner for 2.6K workers, organized at the company's site at Montoir-de-Bretagne, reportedly included delicacies such as foie gras, scallops, lobster and tournedos, and hazelnut and chocolate mousse at only €15 ($16.5) per head.
guardian
While one employee described the sickness as "worse than childbirth," others suffered colic and headaches. Meanwhile, France's public health authorities are investigating the alleged mass food poisoning.
Evening Standard
However, Airbus maintains no one was seriously ill from the incident, which occurred on Dec. 15, adding all employees were back at work by Dec. 18.
CNN
Furthermore, the company has said that the food was prepared at its facility, adding that samples of every dish served will be analyzed by the authorities to determine the cause of the illnesses.
FOX News

Sources Split

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The Spin

Narrative A

It's too early to read much into the Airbus incident right now. Authorities are investigating the matter, and, by the looks of it, it's likely to be mere food poisoning. It was just unfortunate that the employees had to suffer following a festive occasion.

New York Post

Narrative B

Airbus, which employs around 15K people worldwide, ought to have been more careful about its employees — doubly so in the wake of the botulism tragedy in France earlier this year. Let's hope some hard lessons have been learned now.