Two individuals have died and fourteen others have been hospitalized after consuming tainted sausage and turnip top paninis from a food truck in southwest Italy. This incident is linked to the country’s second botulism outbreak within a month. The victims, identified as Luigi di Sarno, 52, and Tamara D’Acunto, 45, succumbed to their illnesses just two days after eating the contaminated sandwiches.
The outbreak occurred near the town of Diamante in Calabria, where health authorities are investigating the food truck responsible for the tainted food. All victims reported consuming the same meal: a panini topped with grilled sausage and turnip tops, known as cime di rapa in Italian. Reports from The Telegraph indicate that di Sarno, who was an artist, had been briefly discharged from the hospital despite expressing ongoing health issues. Tragically, he later died at home.
Investigation Underway Following Food Poisoning Cases
Health officials have launched an investigation into the food truck, owned by Giuseppe Santonocito, 33, who is now under scrutiny along with three employees accused of preparing the tainted sandwiches. Authorities have seized the food truck and ordered a nationwide withdrawal of the paninis, which had been commercially produced. Santonocito reportedly purchased the ingredients used in the sandwiches in late July and had only enough for a limited number of meals before supplies ran out.
According to Santonocito’s lawyer, “He is psychologically devastated. He has worked for around nine years in the food sector and he is well respected. He is convinced that the contamination was already in the products that he served.”
In addition, five doctors who treated the victims at two different hospitals are also facing scrutiny for allegedly failing to diagnose the cases of botulism promptly.
Botulism Outbreaks Raise Health Concerns
Botulism is a rare but serious bacterial infection often associated with food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, it can lead to severe muscle paralysis and may result in death in extreme cases. This latest outbreak follows another incident in late July on the island of Sardinia, where one woman died after consuming spoiled guacamole at a festival, resulting in seven others being treated for food poisoning, including an 11-year-old boy.
In response to the dual outbreaks, Italy’s Ministry of Health stated it has “immediately activated all the health protocols” to ensure that patients receive timely access to life-saving antidote treatments. This proactive approach aims to mitigate the impact of such health crises and protect public safety as investigations continue.