Latest news with #LuigidiSarno
New York Post
4 days ago
- Health
- New York Post
2 dead, 14 hospitalized after eating tainted sausage and turnip top sandwiches in Italy
Two people died and 14 others, including two teenagers, were hospitalized after eating sausage and turnip top paninis from a food truck in southwest Italy linked to the country's second toxic botulism outbreak in a month. Luigi di Sarno, 52, and Tamara D'Acunto, 45, died within two days of ingesting the tainted sandwiches. Another 14 people were hospitalized with food poisoning, The Telegraph reported. Luigi di Sarno, 52, was sent home from the hospital despite his apparent illness, his sister said. Facebook Advertisement Di Sarno, an artist, was sent home from the hospital even after complaining he wasn't feeling well and later died, his sister told the outlet. All of the victims ate sandwiches from a food truck near the town of Diamante in Calabria, which spans across the toe of Italy's boot, according to authorities investigating the botulism outbreak. They each ordered the same meal: a panini topped with grilled sausage and cime di rapa — or turnip tops in English, officials said. Advertisement Giuseppe Santonocito, the 33-year-old owner of the seized food truck, and his three employees who allegedly made the tainted paninis are under investigation. Officials also ordered a nationwide seizure of the panini, which was commercially produced, and are probing other products sold at the truck. Santonocito purchased the produce used in the paninis in late July, and only had enough to make 'six or seven' sandwiches before they ran out, his lawyer told the outlet. Tamara D'Acunto, 45, died shortly after eating a panini purchased from a food truck in southwest Italy. Advertisement 'He is psychologically devastated. He has worked for around nine years in the food sector and he is well respected. He is convinced that the contamination was already in the products that he served,' his lawyer said. Five doctors who treated the victims at two different hospitals are also being probed for apparently not making their diagnoses quickly enough, officials said. Botulism, a bacterial infection, is most commonly linked to food poisoning, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In extreme cases, it can cause muscle paralysis and even death. Advertisement In late July, another toxic botulism outbreak in Sardinia, an island west of Italy's mainland, left one woman dead after eating spoiled guacamole at a festival. Seven others, including an 11-year-old boy, were treated for food poisoning. Italy's Ministry of Health 'immediately activated all the health protocols' following the dual outbreaks to ensure 'that patients had timely access to life-saving antidote treatments,' according to the government agency.
Irish Independent
4 days ago
- Health
- Irish Independent
Two people dead in Italy and over a dozen in hospital after botulism outbreak in sandwiches
Authorities have launched an investigation into an outbreak of toxic botulism after the panini were allegedly bought at a food truck near the town of Diamante in Calabria, the southern region that makes up the toe of the Italian boot. Luigi di Sarno, a 52-year-old artist, and Tamara D'Acunto, 45, have been named as the two fatalities. Post-mortem examinations are to be carried out on their bodies this week. Another 14 people came down with food poisoning, including two teenagers, and had to be taken to hospital. The victims all fell ill within 24 to 48 hours of eating the sandwiches. They went to the food truck and bought panini filled with grilled sausages and cime di rapa − or turnip tops − a popular summer vegetable in Italy similar to broccoli. Nine people are being investigated by the authorities, including the owner of the food truck and three employees of the company that allegedly made the sandwiches. Five doctors who treated the victims in two different hospitals near the city of Cosenza are also under investigation. They are accused of not having made their diagnoses quickly enough. Mr Di Sarno's sister said her brother was sent home from hospital despite still feeling unwell, and later died. 'Toxic botulism is highly potent,' said Enrico Di Rosa, the president of the Italian Society of Workplace Hygiene. 'Just a very small amount is enough to cause serious harm, as we have seen.' Investigators have ordered the nationwide seizure of the commercially produced panini. The food truck has also been seized and the products it sold are being analysed. Botulism is a serious illness that is caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves. It can cause muscle paralysis, breathing difficulties and death. It occurs typically in canned, preserved and fermented foods. The owner of the food truck, 33-year-old Giuseppe Santonocito, is said to be 'devastated' by the deaths. It is thought the turnip greens were kept in olive oil in glass jars or containers. 'He is psychologically devastated,' said his lawyer, Francesco Liserre. 'He has worked for around nine years in the food sector and he is well respected. He is convinced that the contamination was already in the products that he served. 'He bought the products at the end of July, he has the receipts to prove it. The containers were opened as and when necessary and the contents would make six or seven panini, so they were used up quickly.' The outbreak in Calabria is the second deadly case of botulism in Italy in just a few days. A 38-year-old woman died in late July after eating tainted guacamole sauce at a festival in Sardinia. Seven other people suffered acute food poisoning. 'Following two major clusters of botulinum intoxication that occurred in recent weeks in Sardinia and Calabria, the Department of Prevention, Research and Health Emergencies of the Ministry of Health immediately activated all the health protocols,' the health ministry said. 'The intervention system reacted promptly, ensuring that patients had timely access to life-saving antidote treatments.'
Telegraph
5 days ago
- Health
- Telegraph
Two die in Italy after eating sausage and turnip top sandwiches
Two people have died and more than a dozen have been taken to hospital after eating toxic sandwiches filled with sausages and turnip greens in Italy. Authorities have launched an investigation into an outbreak of toxic botulism after the panini were allegedly bought at a food truck near the town of Diamante in Calabria, the southern region that makes up the toe of the Italian boot. Luigi di Sarno, a 52-year-old artist, and Tamara D'Acunto, 45, have been named as the two fatalities. Post-mortem examinations are to be carried out on their bodies this week. Another 14 people came down with food poisoning, including two teenagers, and had to be taken to hospital. The victims all fell ill within 24 to 48 hours of eating the sandwiches. They went to the food truck and bought panini filled with grilled sausages and cime di rapa – or turnip tops – a popular summer vegetable in Italy similar to broccoli. Nine people are being investigated by the authorities, including the owner of the food truck and three employees of the company that allegedly made the sandwiches. Five doctors who treated the victims in two different hospitals near the city of Cosenza are also under investigation. They are accused of not having made their diagnoses quickly enough. Mr Di Sarno's sister said her brother was sent home from hospital despite still feeling unwell, and later died. 'Toxic botulism is highly potent,' said Enrico Di Rosa, the president of the Italian Society of Workplace Hygiene. 'Just a very small amount is enough to cause serious harm, as we have seen.' Investigators have ordered the nationwide seizure of the commercially produced panini. The food truck has also been seized and the products it sold are being analysed. Attacks the body's nerves Botulism is a serious illness that is caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves. It can cause muscle paralysis, breathing difficulties and death. It occurs typically in canned, preserved and fermented foods. The owner of the food truck, 33-year-old Giuseppe Santonocito, is said to be 'devastated' by the deaths. It is thought the turnip greens were kept in olive oil in glass jars or containers. 'He is psychologically devastated,' said his lawyer, Francesco Liserre. 'He has worked for around nine years in the food sector and he is well respected. He is convinced that the contamination was already in the products that he served. 'He bought the products at the end of July, he has the receipts to prove it. The containers were opened as and when necessary and the contents would make six or seven panini, so they were used up quickly.' The outbreak in Calabria is the second deadly case of botulism in Italy in just a few days. A 38-year-old woman died in late July after eating tainted guacamole sauce at a festival in Sardinia. Seven other people suffered acute food poisoning. 'Following two major clusters of botulinum intoxication that occurred in recent weeks in Sardinia and Calabria, the Department of Prevention, Research and Health Emergencies of the Ministry of Health immediately activated all the health protocols,' the health ministry said. 'The intervention system reacted promptly, ensuring that patients had timely access to life-saving antidote treatments.'
