'I ended up in intensive care after adding one odd ingredient to my sandwich'
A student has told how she 'couldn't swallow and her legs were shaking' after eating a broccoli sandwich which nearly killed her.
A second person was confirmed to have died yesterday after eating 'toxic broccoli' in a poisoning that has rocked Italy. There are also more than a dozen people who have been hospitalized after eating products from a food truck in the town of Diamante in Calabria. And now Gaia Vitiello, a 24-year-old student at the Federico II University of Naples, has told how she became seriously ill after eating from the same vendor which has caused the cases of botulism.
She said that she wouldn't normally have had broccoli on her sandwich but for some reason decided to during a night out. She and several friends all had the same type of sandwich at around 4.30am on August 5 but only she had broccoli.
Tricky A-level maths question stumps grown adults – so see if you can solve it
'My friends only had mayonnaise, sausage, and chips. I added broccoli. It was the first time I'd ever done that,' she told local media. And it was only an hour later that she began feeling unwell.
'I had diarrhea. I thought it was indigestion. The next day, the symptoms worsened. I couldn't swallow and my legs were shaking,' she said. 'If my sister Alessia hadn't taken me to the hospital by force, I wouldn't be here today.'
She first went to a nearby clinic and then was immediately sent to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza where she was kept in intensive care due to the effects of botulism. She admits now she was 'lucky' as after being given the right medicine quickly she has been able to recover and was discharged from hospital.
But sadly Tamara D'Acunto, 45, and Luigi Di Sarno, 52, have both died as a result of eating the broccoli sandwiches. Ms D'Acunto was rushed to hospital after eating one for lunch but did not recover and last week, Artist and musician Mr Di Sarno collapsed and died after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich on the Diamante seafront.
Eight others were rushed to hospital, including members of Mr Di Sarno's family. Broccoli has been recalled across Italy following the outbreak and the food truck where the sandwiches were made has also been seized. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
The country is on high alert after the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'. Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare issued a statement following the death of Mr Di Sarno last Thursday.
It read: "The emergency procedure established in these cases has been activated, which requires immediate notification to the Poison Control Center in Pavia, the only national centre designated for the management of botulism.
"No region or hospital in the country is authorised to store the antivenom in their own facilities. This serum, however, is exclusively available to the Ministry of Health, which holds it in designated secure locations and distributes it only through the Lombardy Poison Control Centre.
"The first two vials, used for the first patients, were sent directly from the Military Pharmacy in Taranto. However, as the number of cases increased, additional supplies became necessary.
"Yesterday, the Calabria Region, through Azienda Zero, provided a 118 aircraft that flew to the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, where the ministry had centralised additional vials of the antivenom to facilitate distribution."
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Daily Mirror
2 days ago
- Daily Mirror
'I ended up in intensive care after adding one odd ingredient to my sandwich'
Gaia Vitiello, a 24-year-old student, has told how she was put in intensive care after eating a broccoli sandwich after a botulism outbreak that killed two and left many more ill in Italy A student has told how she 'couldn't swallow and her legs were shaking' after eating a broccoli sandwich which nearly killed her. A second person was confirmed to have died yesterday after eating 'toxic broccoli' in a poisoning that has rocked Italy. There are also more than a dozen people who have been hospitalized after eating products from a food truck in the town of Diamante in Calabria. And now Gaia Vitiello, a 24-year-old student at the Federico II University of Naples, has told how she became seriously ill after eating from the same vendor which has caused the cases of botulism. She said that she wouldn't normally have had broccoli on her sandwich but for some reason decided to during a night out. She and several friends all had the same type of sandwich at around 4.30am on August 5 but only she had broccoli. Tricky A-level maths question stumps grown adults – so see if you can solve it 'My friends only had mayonnaise, sausage, and chips. I added broccoli. It was the first time I'd ever done that,' she told local media. And it was only an hour later that she began feeling unwell. 'I had diarrhea. I thought it was indigestion. The next day, the symptoms worsened. I couldn't swallow and my legs were shaking,' she said. 'If my sister Alessia hadn't taken me to the hospital by force, I wouldn't be here today.' She first went to a nearby clinic and then was immediately sent to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza where she was kept in intensive care due to the effects of botulism. She admits now she was 'lucky' as after being given the right medicine quickly she has been able to recover and was discharged from hospital. But sadly Tamara D'Acunto, 45, and Luigi Di Sarno, 52, have both died as a result of eating the broccoli sandwiches. Ms D'Acunto was rushed to hospital after eating one for lunch but did not recover and last week, Artist and musician Mr Di Sarno collapsed and died after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich on the Diamante seafront. Eight others were rushed to hospital, including members of Mr Di Sarno's family. Broccoli has been recalled across Italy following the outbreak and the food truck where the sandwiches were made has also been seized. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The country is on high alert after the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'. Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare issued a statement following the death of Mr Di Sarno last Thursday. It read: "The emergency procedure established in these cases has been activated, which requires immediate notification to the Poison Control Center in Pavia, the only national centre designated for the management of botulism. "No region or hospital in the country is authorised to store the antivenom in their own facilities. This serum, however, is exclusively available to the Ministry of Health, which holds it in designated secure locations and distributes it only through the Lombardy Poison Control Centre. "The first two vials, used for the first patients, were sent directly from the Military Pharmacy in Taranto. However, as the number of cases increased, additional supplies became necessary. "Yesterday, the Calabria Region, through Azienda Zero, provided a 118 aircraft that flew to the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, where the ministry had centralised additional vials of the antivenom to facilitate distribution."
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Daily Mail
I was nearly killed by a broccoli sandwich: Student reveals how she cheated death and describes horrific symptoms as she recovers from deadly snack that has killed two people
A student has revealed that she was nearly killed by a broccoli sandwich that has already killed at least two and left more than a dozen in hospital. Gaia Vitiello, a 24-year-old student at the Federico II University of Naples, was a customer at a food truck in the town of Diamante, in Calabria. After eating a sandwich with broccoli in it at the end of a night out, she was left suffering botulism and needing to be kept in intensive care at a nearby hospital. The languages student said she and her friends all got the same sandwich at 4.30am on August 5, with only one difference: 'My friends only had mayonnaise, sausage, and chips. I added broccoli. It was the first time I'd ever done that'. She told local media that just one hour later, she was suffering: 'I had diarrhea. I thought it was indigestion. The next day, the symptoms worsened. I couldn't swallow and my legs were shaking.' After Gaia's sister took her a nearby clinic, which the student said she didn't want to do, she was immediately transferred to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza. 'If my sister Alessia hadn't taken me to the hospital by force, I wouldn't be here today', Gaia admitted. Thankfully, she was given the proper medicine and was discharged. She said: 'I consider myself lucky.' Last week, 52-year-old artist Luigi Di Sarno died after eating the panini from a food truck in the town of Diamante, in Calabria. And yesterday, Tamara D'Acunto, 45, also died, and more than a dozen people have been hospitalised. Authorities have launched an investigation into the outbreak and ordered a nationwide recall of the commercially produced panini that has left 14 people with food poisoning including two teenagers. Postmortem examinations are being conducted this week as part of the investigation. The sandwich contained grilled sausages and an Italian summer vegetable called 'cime di rapa' or turnip tops, similar to broccoli. Nine people are being investigated by the authorities, including the owner of the food truck on the seafront in the province of Cosenza whose vehicle as been seized. Three employers of the company who allegedly made the sandwich are also being investigated, as well as five doctors who treated victims near the city of Cosenza. The medics are accused of having not acting quickly enough to save the victims, after Mr Di Sarno's sister alleged that her brother was discharged from hospital despite still feeling sick and later died. Botulism is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The neurotoxins attack the body's nervous system, and can cause respiratory muscle failure, paralysis and death. Di Sarno, an artist and musician originally from Cercola, in the province of Naples, was on holiday in Calabria with his family. After they ate the sandwich on the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza, he began driving back home to Naples. But on the way back he fell ill. Others were rushed to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza, including two 17-year-olds and two women in their 40s. Two of the patients were reportedly in a serious condition when they arrived at the intensive care unit.
Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Second person dies after 'toxic broccoli' in sandwich as vegetable recalled
Tamara D'Acunto passed away after eating a panini she'd bought at a food truck. A woman has become the second death victim of a poisoning outbreak - after eating a sandwich that she bought from a food truck for her lunch. Tamara D'Acunto was rushed to hospital after eating the snack but was unable to recover from the poisoned panini, which contained the 'contaminated' vegetable. It comes after musician and artist Luigi Di Sarno suffered the same tragic fate. The 52-year-old bought a broccoli and sausage sandwich on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza and later passed away. The Mirror reports Tara had also bought her lunch from a food truck in southwest Italy. Eight others were rushed to hospital, including members of Mr Di Sarno's family. Broccoli has been recalled across Italy following the outbreak and the food truck where the sandwiches were made has also been seized. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The country is on high alert after the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office demanding an 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'. A statement following the death of Mr Di Sarno was issued by the authorities last Thursday. The release, from Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare, read: "The emergency procedure established in these cases has been activated, which requires immediate notification to the Poison Control Center in Pavia." It stated is "the only national centre designated for the management of botulism" and added: "No region or hospital in the country is authorised to store the antivenom in their own facilities. "This serum, however, is exclusively available to the Ministry of Health, which holds it in designated secure locations and distributes it only through the Lombardy Poison Control Centre. "The first two vials, used for the first patients, were sent directly from the Military Pharmacy in Taranto. However, as the number of cases increased, additional supplies became necessary. "Yesterday, the Calabria Region, through Azienda Zero, provided a 118 aircraft that flew to the San Camillo Hospital in Rome, where the ministry had centralised additional vials of the antivenom to facilitate distribution." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. What is botulism? Botulism is a serious, potentially fatal illness triggered by a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum. Although rare, only around 1,000 cases reported globally each year, it can lead to muscle paralysis, respiratory failure, and even death if untreated. Symptoms typically begin 12 to 72 hours after exposure and may include blurred vision, slurred speech, muscle weakness, and fatigue. Early intervention with antitoxin and supportive care like mechanical ventilation is critical. How to avoid botulism? 1. Be cautious with oils, herbs and low-acid food Botulism can thrive in low-acid environments like homemade oils infused with herbs or vegetables - especially when stored at room temperature. Always refrigerate such products and use them within four days. 2. Reject suspicious canned goods Never consume food from bulging, dented, or leaking cans and jars. Even items without obvious spoilage can hide invisible, deadly toxins. 3. Use proper pressure canning techniques If you make your own preserves, especially with low-acid foods like vegetables and meats, always use a pressure canner, not a boiling-water bath. Pressure canning reaches temperatures high enough to destroy botulinum spores. 4. Acidify when can canning tomatoes Tomatoes vary in acidity and may not always be safe. To ensure they're preserved safely, add bottled lemon juice or citric acid so the pH stays at or below 4.6. Serious Eats 5. Heat everything thoroughly Botulinum toxin can be destroyed by heating food to above 85C for at least five minutes. This is especially important for home-canned low-acid foods. 6. Refrigerate promptly and store safely Article continues below Never leave perishable food at room temperature for longer than two hours, or one hour in hot conditions (above 32C). Maintain refrigeration at 4C or below. Botulinum toxin cannot be seen, smelled, or tasted, and even the smallest amount can be deadly. If you have any doubt about the safety of a food item, don't sample it - discard it immediately.
