Man killed and nine rushed to hospital as BROCCOLI recalled across Italy in deadly outbreak
KILLER VEG Man killed and nine rushed to hospital as BROCCOLI recalled across Italy in deadly outbreak
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A MAN has died after taking a fatal bite of a broccoli and sausage sandwich amid a growing botulism outbreak.
Broccoli has now been recalled in Italy after nine others were hospitalised with similar symptoms after eating the same meal from a food truck.
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Luigi Di Sarno, 52, died on Thursday after purchasing a broccoli and sausage sandwich
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Broccoli in the region has now been recalled
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Luigi Di Sarno, 52, died on Thursday after eating the sandwich from a street vendor on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza.
Di Sarno's family also fell ill as they were all 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.
They were all showing signs of botulism linked to the popular green vegetable.
Botulism is a rare condition which can often be life-threatening and is caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Following the outbreak in the Cosenza area,
The Paola Public Prosecutor's Office immediately ordered the seizure of jars of broccoli in oil, according to local media.
The food truck where the sandwiches were made has also been seized with an investigation launched into the spread of the toxin.
Di Sarno was on holiday in Calabria with his family when they all stopped off for a bite to eat on the Tyrrhenian coast of Cosenza.
After finishing the meal, the artist and musician was driving his loved ones back home to Cercola, in the province of Naples.
As they merged onto the highway near Lagonegro in Potenza, the 52-year-old suddenly fell ill.
His health rapidly worsened after he was forced to stop in the small town in Basilicata on Thursday.
Emergency officials were called but he tragically died before reaching hospital.
His family, alongside several other customers who ate the broccoli, received immediate care in Cosenza.
An autopsy is being finalised to determine the exact cause of death.
Local media suspect it was botulism due to the swift actions taken in seizing the jars.
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