The salmonella outbreak that has now sickened more than 630 students in Poitiers, France, has led calls for improved communication.

Centre Presse reports a meeting with different concerned parties took place in a closed session at the Prefecture. The FCPE (Federation of Boards of Parents of Students in Public Schools) and the PEEP (Parents of Students in Public Education) were invited.

The teenagers consumed hamburger patties contaminated with salmonella, produced by the Inalca company based in Italy and distributed by the Pomona company into different school cafeterias in France.

Stéphane Jarlégand, the regional Prefecture’s Chief of Staff, said yesterday, “An international investigation is underway,” and that to date, the children have all overcome this misstep and none suffered any “serious effects.”

The French seriously need to improve their communications.

Staff announced that a working group had been set up to “test new technologies able to provide rapid emergency messaging to parents.”

It’s possible that the chosen path will be an automated call broadcasting a clear message that could be sent out via SMS. The system is already in place in Vienne through the Centrale de Civaux (the nuclear plant in Vienne – a.h.) and also for floods.