Latest news with #TamaraD'Acunto
Metro
6 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Second person dies after eating sausage and broccoli sandwich during botulism outbreak
Two people are now confirmed dead after eating broccoli and sausage sandwiches from an Italian food truck. 45-year-old Tamara D'Acunto is confirmed to have died after undergoing treatment in intensive care for botulism from lunch. Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, also died after buying the sandwich from a kiosk in Diamante, Calabria, in southern Italy. More than 17 people are in hospital, prompting the Public Prosecutor's Office to seize the jars of broccoli from the business. Cases of the rare and life-threatening disease were found in other Italian regions. What is botulism? Botulism is a rare and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by toxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Historically contracted due to improperly canned food, the toxins attack the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis. More recently in the UK, patients were diagnosed with botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections. Symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue and difficulties breathing. Around 5 to 10 per cent of cases are fatal, according to the NHS. Because a majority of doctors have never encountered it, initial misdiagnosis is not uncommon. It came as Roberta Pitzalis, 38, died from complications after eating a guacamole from a stand at a gastronomic festival in Cagliari, Sardinia. According to La Repubblica, her condition had appeared to stabilise before she suddenly deteriorated. An 11-year-old boy who also attended the Monserrato Latina festival and had eaten a taco with guacamole, was transferred by helicopter to Rome's Gemelli hospital. He remains in a stable condition but has yet to make a recovery. Authorities in Cagliari have launched an investigation into the outbreak. Experts are advising people to exercise caution when buying risky foods and avoid eating products from cans or jars where the safety button has popped up, indicating the container has not been properly sealed. check our news page.
Daily Record
6 days ago
- Health
- 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.
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Health
- Irish Daily Mirror
Woman dies after eating 'toxic broccoli' in poisoning that has rocked Italy
A woman has died after becoming the latest victim after eating 'toxic broccoli' in a poisoning that has rocked Italy. A terrifying botulism outbreak claimed the life of Tamara D'Acunto, 45, who died shortly after eating a panini. She purchased her lunch from a food truck in southwest Italy, and was rushed to hospital but she couldn't recover. It is the second death following the consumption of the 'contaminated' vegetable. Last week, Artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, collapsed and died after buying a broccoli and sausage sandwich on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza. It comes after a waiter sat down to eat cheese during his break, and moments later he was dying. 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." 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 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.
Metro
6 days ago
- Health
- Metro
Second person dies after eating toxic sandwich during botulism outbreak
Two people are now confirmed dead after eating broccoli and sausage sandwiches from an Italian food truck. 45-year-old Tamara D'Acunto is confirmed to have died after undergoing treatment in intensive care for botulism from lunch. Musician Luigi Di Sarno, 52, also died after buying the sandwich from a kiosk in Diamante, Calabria, in southern Italy. More than 17 people are in hospital, prompting the Public Prosecutor's Office to seize the jars of broccoli from the business. Cases of the rare and life-threatening disease were found in other Italian regions. Botulism is a rare and sometimes life-threatening disease caused by toxins produced by the clostridium botulinum bacteria. Historically contracted due to improperly canned food, the toxins attack the nervous system, leading to muscle paralysis. More recently in the UK, patients were diagnosed with botulism linked to unlicensed anti-wrinkle injections. Symptoms include blurred vision, fatigue and difficulties breathing. Around 5 to 10 per cent of cases are fatal, according to the NHS. Because a majority of doctors have never encountered it, initial misdiagnosis is not uncommon. It came as Roberta Pitzalis, 38, died from complications after eating a guacamole from a stand at a gastronomic festival in Cagliari, Sardinia. According to La Repubblica, her condition had appeared to stabilise before she suddenly deteriorated. More Trending An 11-year-old boy who also attended the Monserrato Latina festival and had eaten a taco with guacamole, was transferred by helicopter to Rome's Gemelli hospital. He remains in a stable condition but has yet to make a recovery. Authorities in Cagliari have launched an investigation into the outbreak. Experts are advising people to exercise caution when buying risky foods and avoid eating canned or jarred products where the safety button has popped up, indicating the container has not been properly sealed. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@ For more stories like this, check our news page. MORE: Urgent recall of supermarket cheese over deadly Listeria bacteria fears MORE: Italy's 'best-kept secret' is the home of Tiramisù and just 30 minutes from Venice MORE: Houses destroyed and thousands evacuated after wildfires rage across Europe
New York Post
7 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.
