Airbus Atlantic: Health officials say 700 staff fell ill after Christmas dinner

More than 700 Airbus Atlantic employees have fallen ill following a Christmas party, health officials in France have said.

Agence Regionale de Santé (ARS) said workers from the space agency's base in western France were suffering from vomiting and diarrhea.

It's unclear what was on the menu at the festive feast that turned into a nightmare before Christmas.

However, Airbus told the BBC that only “around 100 people” had become ill.

In a statement, it said it was working closely with ARS to “identify the cause of the illness and ensure it does not recur in the future”.

Airbus Atlantic is a subsidiary of Airbus, the world's largest aircraft manufacturer, and employs 15,000 people in five countries.

ARS did not provide details on what food may have sickened people at last week's dinner, but it said diners earlier Friday showed “clinical symptoms of vomiting or diarrhea.”

The organization told the AFP news agency that an investigation is underway to determine the source of the mass food poisoning.

The wider Airbus Group employs 134,000 people and provides products and services to the aircraft, helicopter, defense, aerospace and defense industries.