Broccoli Nightmare: One Dead, Nine in ICU After Food Truck Horror
A botulism outbreak in Italy, linked to contaminated broccoli sandwiches, has resulted in the death of a man and the hospitalization of nine others, prompting a nationwide recall and urgent antitoxin distribution. Authorities are investigating the source, highlighting the dangers of improperly preserved foods in this rare but deadly foodborne illness.
A tragic botulism outbreak in Diamante, a coastal town in Calabria, Italy, has left one man dead and nine others hospitalized after consuming contaminated broccoli and sausage sandwiches from a food truck. On August 6, 2025, 52-year-old artist and musician Luigi Di Sarno collapsed shortly after eating the sandwich while driving his family home from a vacation. Despite emergency efforts, he died before reaching a hospital in Lagonegro, Basilicata. Nine others, including two teenagers and two women in their 40s, were admitted to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza, with two in critical condition in intensive care.
The outbreak, linked to broccoli preserved in oil, prompted Italian authorities to recall the product nationwide and seize the food truck. The Paola Public Prosecutor’s Office is investigating the contamination, focusing on improper food preservation practices. 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 Centre in Pavia, the only national centre designated for the management of botulism.” They 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.” Military aircraft have delivered antitoxin serum to affected hospitals, with Annunziata Hospital now stockpiling it as an exception due to the crisis. “Annunziata Hospital currently has a stockpile of the antidote. This is an exceptional measure due to the emergency situation, despite the fact that standard practice does not require hospitals to directly hold the drug,” the department noted.
Botulism, caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacterium, attacks the nervous system, causing muscle paralysis, breathing difficulties, and, in rare cases, death. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains, “Foodborne botulism can happen by eating foods that have been contaminated with botulinum toxin. Common sources of foodborne botulism are homemade foods that have been improperly canned, preserved or fermented. Though uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin.” This incident follows a similar outbreak in Sardinia last month, where eight people, including a 38-year-old woman who died, fell ill after eating contaminated guacamole at a festival. An 11-year-old boy from that incident remains hospitalized in Rome. Diamante’s mayor, Achille Ordine, urged the public on August 7 to avoid panic and rumors as investigations continue, emphasizing the need for stringent food safety measures.