Latest news with #DepartmentofHealthandWelfare
Irish Daily Mirror
a day ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Man dies after eating broccoli sandwich as health officials launch major recall
A man has died and nine other people have been hospitalised in Italy after they ate a sandwich which contained 'contaminated' broccoli, with a mass recall now underway. Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and couldn't be saved after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich from food truck on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza. The other victims, said to include two teenagers, were all taken to the intensive care unit of Annunziata Hospital in the town. Those needing treatment are understood to include members of tragic Mr Di Sarno's family, with two of the patients reportedly still in a very serious condition. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, Mirror UK reports. There are as-yet unconfirmed reports that a 38-year-old woman has died after she ate a taco with guacamole at a kiosk at the festival in the Cagliari. 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 said: "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." A friend of Mr Di Sarno paid tribute to him on social media. They wrote: "The world loses once again a beautiful person, leaving a void in all those who truly cared for him. We had rare encounters in recent times but mutual respect never waned, we had a beer pending and many stories to share. It will be for another world, rest in peace!" The infected broccoli comes days after eight people are said to have fell ill with botulism after eating infected guacamole at a festival in Sardinia late last month. A boy, 11, remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome after being rushed by helicopter from Cagliari. The mayor of Diamante, Achille Ordine, asks not to 'create panic' following the outbreak as the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paola investigating. The ASP of Cosenza has placed a health block on the activity 'as a precautionary measure'. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- Health
- 7NEWS
One dead and nine others rushed to hospital after eating broccoli prompting urgent recall in Italy
A man has died and nine others have been rushed to hospital after they ate a broccoli and sausage sandwich in Italy, amid a growing outbreak of botulism in the country. Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed after eating the alleged contaminated sandwich from a food truck on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza, Italy. Cosenza is in the Calabria region of the country. Nine others were taken to the intensive care unit of Annunziata Hospital, including two teenagers and two women in their 40s. Two of the patients remain in a very serious condition. Di Sarno's family are among those who have fallen ill, reports The Mirror. All patients have the symptoms of botulism, which is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Following the outbreak in the Cosenza region, officials have ordered the immediate seizure of a commercial product, which is thought to be broccoli in oil. The food truck which sold the sandwiches has also been seized. An anti-toxin serum used to treat botulism is being distributed across Italy. '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,' the Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare said. '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.' A friend of Di Sarno posted a tribute on Facebook. 'Rest in peace my friend and thank you for all your life and culture lessons since I was just a child. I always admired your character and will never forget your noble and kind soul. Watch over your loved ones. Here's who Luigi Di Sarno was,' Gennaro Russo wrote. It comes after eight people became ill with botulism last month in Sardinia, after eating infected guacamole at Fiesta Latina, reported Italian newspaper, La Repubblica. An 11-year-old boy remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome. A woman, 38, reportedly died after she ate a taco with guacamole at the same festival in the Cagliari hinterland.
Irish Daily Mirror
3 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
One dead and nine in hospital after eating contaminated sandwich
A man has tragically lost his life with nine others rushed to hospital in Italy after consuming a sandwich containing 'contaminated' broccoli, sparking a widespread product recall. Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and could not be revived after purchasing a broccoli and sausage sandwich from a food truck along the Diamante seafront in Cosenza province. The casualties, believed to include two teenagers, were all admitted to the intensive care unit at Annunziata Hospital in the town. Among those requiring urgent medical attention are understood to be members of Mr Di Sarno's devastated family, with two patients reportedly remaining in an extremely critical condition. The incident occurs against the backdrop of an escalating botulism outbreak triggered by toxins from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, reports the Mirror. Entire family of five killed in horror rental car crash in Portugal This follows a doctor's stark warning to individuals who consume even a 'single cup of tea'. Unverified reports suggest a 38 year old woman has also perished after eating a taco with guacamole at a festival kiosk in Cagliari. The nation remains on heightened alert following the Paola Public Prosecutor's Office's demand for the 'immediate seizure of a commercial product'. The Calabria Region's Department of Health and Welfare stated: "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. Giant sandwich with salsicce e friarielli - sausages and broccoli - neapolitan food (Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto) An urgent broccoli recall has been launched following the man's death (Image: Facebook) "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." A friend of Mr Di Sarno paid tribute to him on social media, writing: "The world loses once again a beautiful person, leaving a void in all those who truly cared for him. "We had rare encounters in recent times but mutual respect never waned, we had a beer pending and many stories to share. It will be for another world, rest in peace!". The contaminated broccoli incident comes just days after eight people reportedly fell ill with botulism after consuming tainted guacamole at a festival in Sardinia late last month. An 11 year old boy remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome after being airlifted from Cagliari. The mayor of Diamante, Achille Ordine, has urged people not to 'create panic' in the wake of the outbreak, while the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paola is conducting an investigation. The ASP of Cosenza has imposed a health block on the activity 'as a precautionary measure'. Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest news from the Irish Mirror direct to your inbox: Sign up here.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Health
- Daily Mirror
Urgent broccoli recall as man dies and nine hospitalised after eating sandwich
Broccoli has been recalled across Italy following the death of Luigi Di Sarno, who died after eating a sandwich with members of his family still in intensive care A man has died with nine others rushed to hospital in Italy after they ate a sandwich which contained 'contaminated' broccoli, with a mass recall now underway. Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and couldn't be saved after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich from food truck on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza. The victims, said to include two teenagers, were all taken to the intensive care unit of Annunziata Hospital in the town. Those needing treatment are understood to include members of tragic Mr Di Sarno's family, with two of the patients reportedly still in a very serious condition. It comes amid a growing botulism outbreak caused by the toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. It happens after a doctor's warning to people who drink even a 'single cup of tea'. There are as-yet unconfirmed reports that a 38-year-old woman has died after she ate a taco with guacamole at a kiosk at the festival in the Cagliari. 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 said: "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." A friend of Mr Di Sarno paid tribute to him on social media. They wrote: "The world loses once again a beautiful person, leaving a void in all those who truly cared for him. "We had rare encounters in recent times but mutual respect never waned, we had a beer pending and many stories to share. It will be for another world, rest in peace!" The infected broccoli comes days after eight people are said to have fell ill with botulism after eating infected guacamole at a festival in Sardinia late last month. A boy, 11, remains in intensive care at the Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome after being rushed by helicopter from Cagliari. The mayor of Diamante, Achille Ordine, asks not to 'create panic' following the outbreak as the Public Prosecutor's Office of Paola investigating. The ASP of Cosenza has placed a health block on the activity 'as a precautionary measure'.
Yahoo
02-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Opinion - Is SNAP doing what it was meant to do? Idaho thinks it's time to ask.
In Idaho, we don't shy away from tough questions. Right now, we're asking one that's overdue: Is the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program — 'SNAP,' or 'food stamps' as it was once known — still fulfilling its original purpose? Our legislature has just passed a bill that would direct Idaho's Department of Health and Welfare to seek a federal waiver to forbid food stamps from being used to buy soda and candy. This isn't about soft drinks or sweets — it's about the integrity of a public program and whether it's still delivering on its mission. Food stamps exist to help low-income families put meals on the table. That is a goal we all stand behind. But its purpose goes beyond just filling grocery bags. The federal law that established SNAP some six decades ago states clearly that the program is designed 'to alleviate … hunger and malnutrition' by enabling families to afford a more nutritious diet. That's not an optional benchmark — it's the standard. So, we need to ask: Are we meeting it? If we are, that's good news. If not, we have a responsibility to address it. This isn't about penalizing anyone. It's about accountability. Like any taxpayer-funded program, food stamps should be judged by their outcomes. If they're straying from their intent, we can't just look the other way — we have to fix it. That's basic stewardship. The data tell the whole story. Obesity has tripled since the 1960s. More than 40 percent of adults and one in five children are obese. One in three adults is diabetic or prediabetic. And sugary drinks alone account for nearly $4 billion in annual food stamp spending. These aren't criticisms of the folks using food stamps. Rather, they are signals about the program's direction. If 20 percent of food stamp dollars are going toward soda, candy and snack foods, are we truly advancing the goal of a 'more nutritious diet'? That's a question every legislator must confront. House Bill 109 is Idaho's attempt to do just that and to spark a broader conversation. The bill is straightforward. It defines soda and candy using our existing tax code. It then directs our health department to request a U.S. Department of Agriculture waiver excluding those items from food stamp purchases and mandates that we keep asking annually until it's approved. Critics have called this overreach. But food stamps already exclude some items — for example, alcohol, tobacco and hot prepared meals. Programs like the Women, Infants and Children program already prohibit soda and candy entirely, prioritizing nutrition over convenience. So setting limits is not novel or radical. It is already common in such programs, and in this case it is consistent with the program's roots. This should be a routine discussion. When a public program drifts from its initial aims, we owe it to those it serves — and to those who fund it — to ask why. Yet Washington has been dodging this debate for years. Lobbyists for Big Soda and Big Sugar have stifled reform, and even under administrations pledging change, the federal Department of Agriculture has refused to budge. Maine's waiver request, for instance, was drafted and rejected in 2018. That is why states like Idaho are now taking the lead. This idea isn't on the fringes anymore. A dozen states are exploring similar measures. Bipartisan voices in Congress are raising the issue of nutrition reform. Figures such as Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins and Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. are pressing for change from outside the system. But that momentum wouldn't exist if not for states driving it. Idaho has a chance to set an example — not just by tweaking food stamps, but by realigning them with their founding purpose. We're not here to dictate anyone's grocery list. We are here to ensure that a major federal program stays true to its goal of fighting hunger and malnutrition through better nutrition. If Congress meant what it wrote in the law — if SNAP's mission is genuinely about healthier diets — then we should measure it against that standard. And if we're falling short, we should act. House Bill 109 is one practical step toward that accountability. Government programs, like the people they serve, thrive when they stay focused. It's time we made sure SNAP stays focused, too. Jordan Redman, a Republican, represents Idaho's third legislative district in the state House of Representatives. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
