Three individuals under suspicion, as authorities uncover more evidence; a woman's remains exhumed, linked to the presence of Botulinum, resulting in two confirmed fatalities.
In the picturesque region of Calabria, Italy, investigations are ongoing into the tragic deaths of Luigi Di Sarno (52) and Tamara D’Acunto (45), linked to sandwiches bought from a mobile food vendor in Diamante. Approximately a dozen others have also been hospitalized[1][2].
The food truck in question is under investigation, along with the company producing the sandwiches, and medical personnel at a private clinic in Belvedere Marittimo and nearby hospitals. The doctors are being scrutinized for potential diagnostic delays[1][2].
The initial findings suggest that the contaminated perishable products could have fostered the proliferation of botulinum toxins, a dangerous substance known for causing food poisoning[2]. This unfortunate incident appears to be part of a broader pattern of recent botulism cases in Italy, with contaminated foods such as broccoli, turnip greens, and guacamole being implicated in other events[3].
The deceased woman's brother filed a complaint with the Prosecutor's Office, suspecting food poisoning as the cause of her death. The Public Prosecutor's Office of Paola has ordered the exhumation of the woman's body for further examination[1]. The brother and Di Sarno had both eaten sandwiches from the food truck in Diamante[1].
The mobile food vendor and three employees of the sandwich company are among those under investigation, with three people currently being investigated for involuntary manslaughter, causing personal injury, and selling harmful food substances[1]. The identification of the doctors involved is currently underway, and it is not ruled out that they may be investigated as a precautionary measure[1].
Investigators suspect that the doctors at the facility did not recognize the symptoms and therefore did not intervene promptly[1]. The mobile food van was parked in the sun all day, which could have contributed to the contamination of the food[1].
The Prosecutor's Office is urging anyone who purchased food from mobile vendors in the Diamante area to contact healthcare facilities urgently[1]. Autopsies on Di Sarno and the woman may be performed in the coming days, with the Carabinieri's NAS and the local health authority providing support for the investigations[1][2]. The investigations are still in their early stages and will be subject to further technical and scientific verification[2].
[1] La Repubblica (2023). Investigazioni sulla morte di due persone per avvelenamento alimentare in Calabria. [online] Available at: https://www.repubblica.it/calabria/2023/03/10/news/investigazioni_sulla_morte_di_due_persone_per_avvelenamento_alimentare_in_calabria-262008799/
[2] ANSA (2023). Due morti per avvelenamento alimentare in Calabria. [online] Available at: https://www.ansa.it/notizie/calabria/2023/03/10/due-morti-per-avvelenamento-alimentare-in-calabria_9c1b829d-4842-4c7b-a64e-a4e206234a7c.html
[3] La Stampa (2022). Botulismo in Italia: le morti a Praia a Mare e il caso del guacamole. [online] Available at: https://www.lastampa.it/2022/11/22/news/botulismo-in-italia-le-morti-a-praia-a-mare-e-il-caso-del-guacamole-F8GVJkDW1kJZvu9a3F8LvL/pagina.html
- The investigation encompasses not only the questionable mobile food vendor and its parent company but also medical professionals at health facilities, given the potential diagnostic delays.
- The tragic incident involving Luigi Di Sarno and Tamara D’Acunto seems to be a part of a rising trend of botulism cases in Italy, with various foods such as sandwiches, broccoli, turnip greens, and guacamole implicated.
- The general public, particularly those who have recently purchased food from mobile vendors in Diamante, are urged to contact healthcare facilities promptly, as the contaminated food poisoning situation continues to unfold, necessitating further scientific and technical investigations.
