1951 Pont-Saint-Esprit mass poisoning

Topic

The 1951 Pont-Saint-Esprit mass poisoning, historically known as the "cursed bread" (le pain maudit) incident, was a mysterious foodborne illness outbreak that struck the French town of Pont-Saint-Esprit on August 15, 1951. The incident affected over 250 people, causing severe physical symptoms, terrifying hallucinations, the temporary institutionalization of dozens, and seven deaths. While ergot poisoning or organic mercury contamination are widely considered the primary causes, conspiracy theories have also alleged secret CIA chemical testing.