Deadly Delicacy: The Shocking Sandwich Outbreak That Turned Fatal

Ever wonder if a seemingly innocent sandwich could double as a ticking time bomb? Well, in southern Italy, artist Luigi Di Sarno, 52, tragically found out the hard way after a sausage and broccoli sandwich from a local food truck turned out to be contaminated with botulism—a rare but deadly toxin known to wreck the nervous system. Nine more people ended up in intensive care, and now authorities are scrambling, pulling the suspect broccoli preserved in oil off the shelves and seizing the food truck in question. It’s a grim reminder that sometimes, what’s supposed to be a quick bite can take a sinister turn—making you question every bite you take from that tempting food truck around the corner. Curious how botulism sneaks into your food and what you can do to dodge it? LEARN MORE

A man in southern Italy has died after eating a contaminated sausage and broccoli sandwich.

Artist Luigi Di Sarno, 52, reportedly collapsed after allegedly eating the dish from a food truck in the Cosenza province, while nine others were taken to an intensive care unit in Annunziata hospital.

Botulism is produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which attack the nervous system and can cause paralysis.

It’s currently thought that broccoli in preserved oil has been contaminated with botulism, with authorities ordering that the product be taken off the shelves temporarily.

The food truck from which Di Sarno ate has been seized, ITV News reports.

The Poison Control Centre in Pavia is said to be distributing antidotes for the illness to hospitals, as law enforcement, health services, and the Red Cross are collaborating to provide treatment to the rare, life-threatening condition.

Artist Luigi Di Sarno, 52, died after eating an allegedly contaminated sandwich from a food truck (Facebook)

His sister Mena Di Sarno told InterNapoli that the musician was still feeling dizzy and unwell after he was discharged from the hospital, and passed away on the journey back to Annunziata in the evening.

Maria Rosaria Campitiello, head of the Department of Prevention, Research, and Health Emergencies, said patients were provided with access to ‘lifesaving antidote treatments’, including an anti-toxin serum.

“It should be noted that the foods at risk of botulinum toxin are homemade preserves prepared vacuum-packed, in oil, or in water, and, rarely, industrial products,” she said.

“This is why it is important to follow the rules for the correct and safe preparation and storage of food.”

What is botulism?

Broccoli stored in oil has been recalled from the area (Getty Stock Images)

There are three types of botulism, which are:

• Food-borne botulism – food contaminated with botulism, usually because it hasn’t been canned, stored, or cooked properly.

• Wound botulism – when germs get into a cut or wound from using drugs like heroin that have been contaminated

• Infant botulism – when a baby swallows a tiny germ spore from things like dirty soil or honey. These spores don’t make older children or adults sick because, after the age of one, the body can fight them off.

What are the symptoms of botulism?

According to the NHS, symptoms can include:

• droopy eyelids

• blurred vision

• muscle weakness in your face

• difficulty swallowing (dysphagia)

• slurred speech

• breathing difficulties

How to prevent getting botulism?

The NHS says that the ‘high standards of food hygiene in the UK’ make the probability of getting botulism from food very low.

However, they advised to ‘not eat food from bulging or damaged cans, and avoid eating foul-smelling preserved foods, foods stored at the incorrect temperature and out-of-date foods’.