Italian authorities have announced a nationwide recall of broccoli following a suspected botulism outbreak that killed one man and left nine others hospitalised. The victim, 52-year-old artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno from Cercola, Naples province, is believed to have consumed a contaminated broccoli and sausage sandwich from a seafront food truck in Diamante, Cosenza province.
Di Sarno, returning from a family holiday in Calabria, began feeling unwell shortly after the roadside meal. While driving near Lagonegro in Potenza, he was forced to pull over. Emergency responders were called, but he died before reaching the hospital.
Nine other diners, including Di Sarno’s relatives, two teenagers, and two women in their 40s, were admitted to intensive care at Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza. Two remain in critical condition.
Officials suspect the case is part of a broader outbreak. Last month, Sardinia recorded eight botulism cases linked to guacamole sold at a Mexican food stall during Monserrato’s Fiesta Latin festival, resulting in one death and severe illness in an 11-year-old boy flown to Rome for treatment.
Botulism, caused by toxins from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, attacks the nervous system, potentially causing respiratory failure and paralysis. It has a fatality rate of around 10 per cent. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention warns that while most cases stem from improperly canned or preserved homemade foods, commercially prepared products can also be affected.
Italian health officials urge consumers to check recent broccoli purchases and seek medical help immediately if symptoms arise.