Two Dead, 14 Hospitalized in Italy’s Botulism Food Poisoning Case

Two people died and 14 others were hospitalized following a food poisoning incident linked to contaminated sausage and turnip top paninis from a food truck in southwest Italy. This outbreak has been connected to the country’s second case of toxic botulism in just one month.

The victims, identified as Luigi di Sarno, 52, and Tamara D’Acunto, 45, both succumbed to the effects of the tainted sandwiches within two days of consuming them. Reports indicate that Di Sarno had initially been sent home from the hospital despite expressing concerns about his health. His family shared their grief, highlighting the tragic circumstances surrounding his passing.

All individuals affected consumed the same meal from a food truck located near the town of Diamante in Calabria. Authorities confirmed that the panini, featuring grilled sausage and cime di rapa, was the source of the botulism outbreak. Among the hospitalized were two teenagers, indicating the widespread impact of this food safety incident.

The owner of the food truck, Giuseppe Santonocito, 33, along with three staff members implicated in the food preparation, are currently under investigation. The food truck has been seized by authorities, who are actively investigating the source of the contamination. Santonocito reportedly purchased the ingredients used in the paninis in late July and had only enough to prepare a limited number of sandwiches before running out.

In a statement from his lawyer, Santonocito was described as “psychologically devastated.” Having worked in the food industry for nearly nine years, he is regarded as a respected figure in his community. The lawyer asserted that Santonocito believes the contamination was likely present in the ingredients before they were used in the sandwiches.

In addition to the investigation into the food truck, officials are also examining the actions of five doctors who treated the victims at two different hospitals. They are being scrutinized for not diagnosing the botulism cases swiftly enough, which could have contributed to the fatalities.

Botulism is a serious bacterial infection often linked to food poisoning. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the condition can lead to muscle paralysis and, in severe cases, death. This recent outbreak follows another incident in late July on the island of Sardinia, where one woman died after consuming spoiled guacamole at a festival. That outbreak also affected several others, including an 11-year-old boy.

In response to the dual outbreaks, Italy’s Ministry of Health has stated that it “immediately activated all the health protocols” to ensure that affected individuals had timely access to life-saving antidote treatments. The government agency continues to monitor the situation closely, aiming to prevent further cases of botulism and safeguard public health.