Botulism cases prompt food safety alert

Two deaths and multiple hospitalisations in Calabria are linked to a vegetable and sausage sandwich sold from a food truck near Diamante.

Botulism deaths tied to Calabrian sandwich case

Two deaths and 17 hospitalisations are linked to a vegetable and sausage sandwich sold from a food truck near Diamante in Calabria. A 45-year-old woman died after eating the panini and a 52-year-old man died earlier in the week. The truck has been seized and authorities say nine people, including the vendor and company staff, are under investigation. All hospitalised patients developed botulism symptoms within 24 to 48 hours of eating the sandwiches. Emergency procedures have been activated and the national Poison Control Centre has been notified. The Paola Public Prosecutor’s Office has ordered seizures of jars of broccoli in oil and coordinates with health authorities as it arranges access to antitoxin serum kept by the Ministry of Health and distributed through a national poison-control network.

The incident underscores how a single mobile vendor can trigger a broader public health crisis. It tests the speed and transparency of the emergency response, from seizing equipment to securing antitoxin stock and coordinating with national health services. Officials will be watching for timely public communication to prevent panic among travellers and residents, while investigators sift through supply chains and ingredient sourcing. If authorities prove capable of rapid containment and clear messaging, the episode could strengthen confidence in public health systems; if not, it could fuel calls for tougher oversight of food trucks and more robust preparedness.

Highlights

More details will come as authorities release findings from the probe.