A tragic incident in Italy has led to the death of a man, with nine others hospitalised, after consuming a sandwich believed to contain ‘contaminated’ broccoli, prompting an urgent recall.
Luigi Di Sarno, 52, an artist and musician, tragically passed away following his consumption of a broccoli and sausage sandwich from a food truck along the Diamante seafront in Cosenza province. The affected individuals, including two teenagers, were all admitted to the intensive care unit at Annunziata Hospital in the town.
Among those receiving medical attention are relatives of the late Mr Di Sarno, with reports indicating that two patients remain in critical condition. This incident is part of a larger botulism scare linked to toxins from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which has also prompted health warnings for tea drinkers.
Unverified claims have surfaced about a 38-year-old woman’s death after eating a taco with guacamole at a festival in Cagliari, as the nation remains vigilant. The Paola Public Prosecutor’s Office has called for an ‘immediate seizure of a commercial product’ in response to the outbreak, reports the Mirror.
The contaminated broccoli comes days after eight people are said to have fallen ill with botulism after eating infected guacamole at a festival in Sardinia late last month. An 11 year old boy remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome after being rushed by helicopter from Cagliari.
The mayor of Diamante, Achille Ordine, has urged people not to ‘create panic’ in the wake of the outbreak, while the Public Prosecutor’s Office of Paola is investigating. The ASP of Cosenza has imposed a health block on the activity ‘as a precautionary measure’.
What is Botulism?
Botulism is a condition caused by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. While the condition is rare, it can be life-threatening.
The bacteria attack the central nervous system causing muscle weakness and paralysis, and if not treated quickly, this can impact the muscles that control breathing. It is estimated that Botulism is deadly in five to 10 per cent of cases, but the majority of patients will make a full recovery after receiving immediate medical attention.
There are three different types of botulism:
- Food-borne botulism – This is the type of botulism most people will be familiar with. According to the NHS website, food-bourne botulism occurs when: “someone eats food containing the toxins because it has not been properly canned, preserved or cooked.”
- Wound botulism– The NHS website explains that wound botulism occurs when: “a wound becomes infected with the bacteria, usually as a result of injecting illegal drugs like heroin contaminated with the bacteria into muscle rather than a vein.”
- Infant botulism – Finally, botulism can occur in infants who don’t have a full immune system yet. The NHS website explains: “when a baby swallows a resistant form of the bacteria, called a spore, in contaminated soil or food, such as honey (these spores are harmless to older children and adults because the body develops defences against them from about the age of 1).”
What are the symptoms?
The onset of symptoms can vary in speed, from hours to days. According to the NHS website, the main symptoms to look out for are:
- drooping eyelids
- blurred or double vision
- facial muscle weakness
- difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)
- slurred speech
- breathing difficulties
What foods are highest risk?
Canned foods are the highest risk for botulism, particularly if they have been canned at home without the use of professional canning equipment. Low-acid foods like vegetables pose the highest risk of developing the bacteria, as well as figs, meats, poultry, fish, seafood, and some tomatoes.
It is critically important to make sure jars and cans have been properly sealed before consuming any canned foods. You can test this by making sure the ‘button’ on the lid is fully compressed – if you can push the button up and down, the food should be discarded.
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