French wine makers face legal action over birth defects
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《英国医生杂志》
State prosecutors in France are investigating whether manufacturers of alcoholic drinks should face legal action for failing to warn pregnant women about the dangers of alcohol.
Prosecutors in Lille, northern France, opened a probe after complaints from three mothers in Roubaix, just north of Lille, who gave birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome. The syndrome can lead to physical abnormalities, mental impairment, and behavioural problems.
Benoit Titran, the lawyer representing the three mothers—who have formed an association called Esper ("Ecoute, sant? parents, enfants, respect")—said that drinks manufacturers had done too little to ensure that pregnant women were aware of the risks of drinking, despite much scientific evidence showing that even moderate alcohol consumption can damage a fetus.
"Producers of alcohol know about the risks of alcohol for pregnant women," Mr Titran told the news agency Agence France-Presse.
"Two glasses a day or a peak consumption of five glasses in an evening are enough for this irreversible syndrome," said Mr Titran, whose father, Maurice Titran, is a paediatrician at Roubaix Hospital and a specialist in fetal alcohol syndrome.
"The consumption of alcohol affects the central nervous system and the brain of a fetus. If the symptoms of the syndrome are not apparent immediately, then they will appear when the children have problems learning at the age of learning to read and write."
Doctors estimate that 0.3% of the 700000 babies born in France every year have the syndrome.
Mr Titran said that all alcoholic drinks should contain a prominent warning about the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
He noted that bottles of French wine exported to America did have warnings in English on the labels about the risks of alcohol during pregnancy, in compliance with US law.
"Why does an American consumer have this information and not a French consumer?" he asked.
In the course of the enquiry a manager in the supermarket chain Auchan has been questioned about his knowledge of fetal alcohol syndrome by the Lille assistant prosecutor, Ludovic Duprez.
Charges of placing the lives of others at risk, attempting to mislead consumers, and wounding without intent could be brought against the manufacturers.
Mr Titran said that the Lille inquiry was only the first step, adding that a whole raft of measures were needed to warn women about the risks of drinking during pregnancy.
The French minister of health, Philippe Douste-Blazy, has said that he will press for the introduction of warnings about the effects of alcohol during pregnancy. He also said he would launch a campaign to warn women who are expecting children of the dangers of alcohol.(Vienna Jane Burgermeister)
Prosecutors in Lille, northern France, opened a probe after complaints from three mothers in Roubaix, just north of Lille, who gave birth to children with fetal alcohol syndrome. The syndrome can lead to physical abnormalities, mental impairment, and behavioural problems.
Benoit Titran, the lawyer representing the three mothers—who have formed an association called Esper ("Ecoute, sant? parents, enfants, respect")—said that drinks manufacturers had done too little to ensure that pregnant women were aware of the risks of drinking, despite much scientific evidence showing that even moderate alcohol consumption can damage a fetus.
"Producers of alcohol know about the risks of alcohol for pregnant women," Mr Titran told the news agency Agence France-Presse.
"Two glasses a day or a peak consumption of five glasses in an evening are enough for this irreversible syndrome," said Mr Titran, whose father, Maurice Titran, is a paediatrician at Roubaix Hospital and a specialist in fetal alcohol syndrome.
"The consumption of alcohol affects the central nervous system and the brain of a fetus. If the symptoms of the syndrome are not apparent immediately, then they will appear when the children have problems learning at the age of learning to read and write."
Doctors estimate that 0.3% of the 700
Mr Titran said that all alcoholic drinks should contain a prominent warning about the dangers of consuming alcohol during pregnancy.
He noted that bottles of French wine exported to America did have warnings in English on the labels about the risks of alcohol during pregnancy, in compliance with US law.
"Why does an American consumer have this information and not a French consumer?" he asked.
In the course of the enquiry a manager in the supermarket chain Auchan has been questioned about his knowledge of fetal alcohol syndrome by the Lille assistant prosecutor, Ludovic Duprez.
Charges of placing the lives of others at risk, attempting to mislead consumers, and wounding without intent could be brought against the manufacturers.
Mr Titran said that the Lille inquiry was only the first step, adding that a whole raft of measures were needed to warn women about the risks of drinking during pregnancy.
The French minister of health, Philippe Douste-Blazy, has said that he will press for the introduction of warnings about the effects of alcohol during pregnancy. He also said he would launch a campaign to warn women who are expecting children of the dangers of alcohol.(Vienna Jane Burgermeister)