Woman dies from botulinum toxin in contaminated guacamole incident in Vigone, Italy, managed by local authorities (Nas)
Contaminated Guacamole at Latin Fiesta Festival Causes Outbreak in Sardinia
A recent outbreak of botulism at the Latin Fiesta festival in Monserrato, Sardinia, has been linked to contaminated guacamole served at the event between July 22-24, 2025. The incident has resulted in multiple hospitalizations, with at least six confirmed cases and possibly up to eleven under investigation. Two deaths in Sardinia have been confirmed from botulinum food poisoning, including a 38-year-old woman, Roberta Pitzalis, and a 62-year-old woman, Valeria Sollai.
The guacamole was made using Metro Chef avocado pulp imported via MCC Trading International in Germany and Salud Food Group Europe, originally from Peru. The Ministry of Health issued a recall for several lots of this avocado pulp because of the possible presence of botulinum toxin. The contaminated product was sold in 1-kilogram packages with expiration dates in 2026.
The source of the contamination is still under investigation, but the outbreak appears to be connected to industrially produced guacamole rather than home preserves. Historically in Italy, many annual botulism cases have been linked to improperly preserved foods.
Authorities have launched an epidemiological investigation and a criminal inquiry by the Cagliari Public Prosecutor’s Office. The festival was suspended, and local health departments are involved in the response. The only person under investigation is a 55-year-old man from Cercenasco, who owns the chiosco where the contaminated guacamole was served.
In addition to the Sardinia cases, there have been other botulism deaths in Italy recently, including two fatalities in the southern region of Calabria due to contaminated home and industrial preserves, but these cases are separate from the Monserrato outbreak.
The investigations by the Cagliari Prosecutor's Office and the NAS continue to trace the supply chain of the foods served at the Latin Fiesta. The legal representative of the association that organized the Sardegna festival, Vincenti, is the legal representative of the association that organized the Latin Fiesta. The man who is under investigation is defended by lawyer Maurizio Mereu.
Botulism is a rare but severe form of food poisoning. The symptoms include double vision, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, and muscle weakness that can lead to respiratory failure. Prevention is focused on proper food handling and storage, as well as the use of proper preservation methods for home-made foods.
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- The average number of annual botulism cases in Italy has historically been linked to improperly preserved foods, such as the current outbreak in Sardinia caused by contaminated guacamole at the Latin Fiesta festival.
- Despite the recent outbreak, the general news has been dominated by stories of healthy cooking and lifestyle trends, with food-and-drink focused on promoting healthy alternatives like locally sourced ingredients and home cooking.
- While there have been separate instances of botulism deaths in Calabria, related to both home and industrial preserves, these cases are not connected to the outbreak in Sardinia.
- The science community is closely monitoring the investigations into the Latin Fiesta outbreak to determine the source of the contamination, focusing on the Metro Chef avocado pulp used in the guacamole.
- Mental-health advocates are emphasizing the importance of stress management and seeking help during this time, as the fear and uncertainty surrounding the Latin Fiesta outbreak may contribute to increased stress levels for those in the affected region.
- As criminal inquiries continue, fitness-and-exercise pros are utilizing their platforms to encourage regular exercise as a way to boost the immune system, helping the body fight off potential contaminants and hopefully preventing future outbreaks.
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