Archive · 14 Aug 2025
Italy Botulism Outbreak: Two Deaths, Investigation Underway
In Italy, people are getting sick from a rare illness called botulism after eating sandwiches with toxic broccoli.
Botulism is caused by a poison made by bacteria in food that wasn't prepared safely.
Two people have died, and many others are in the hospital with symptoms like blurry vision and trouble swallowing.
Doctors say the poison attacks your nerves and can cause paralysis.
Authorities are looking into where the bad food came from to stop more people from getting sick.
If you eat food that has this poison, you can get sick and it could be dangerous.
A second death from botulism occurred in Italy after consuming a toxic broccoli sandwich.
Seventeen others have been hospitalized with botulism symptoms after eating the sandwiches.
The outbreak originated in Diamante, Calabria, with the sandwiches purchased from a food vendor.
Authorities are investigating, including the food truck owner and employees.
Symptoms of botulism include blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, and paralysis.
- Who
- People who ate sandwiches containing toxic broccoli, and authorities are investigating the food vendor and associated parties.
- What
- A botulism outbreak caused by toxic broccoli sandwiches.
- When
- The outbreak began recently, with symptoms appearing within hours to two weeks after eating the contaminated food.
- Where
- Diamante, Calabria, Italy.
- Why
- Botulism is caused by a toxin from bacteria, likely due to improper food preservation, which was present in the contaminated sandwiches.
- Deaths
- 2
- Hospitalized
- 17
- Location
- Diamante, Calabria, Italy
- Source
- Toxic broccoli sandwiches
- Symptoms
- Blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, paralysis
- Investigation
- Underway by authorities