Two people have died in Italy after eating broccoli sandwiches linked to a deadly botulism outbreak.
Artist Luigi Di Sarno, 52, died last week after eating the panini from a food truck in Diamante, Calabria. Days later, 45-year-old Tamara D’Acunto also died. More than a dozen others, including two teenagers, are in hospital.

Authorities recalled the sandwiches nationwide and launched an investigation. The panini contained grilled sausages and “cime di rapa,” a vegetable similar to broccoli. Nine people, including the truck owner, food company staff, and five doctors, are under investigation. “We must act fast to prevent more tragedies,” one official said.

Botulism is rare but life-threatening. It attacks the nervous system, causing paralysis and even death. Victims from the Calabria outbreak showed symptoms such as nausea and difficulty breathing. A similar case in Sardinia last month killed one woman and hospitalised seven others after they ate contaminated guacamole.

Italy’s Health Ministry said protocols were activated quickly to provide antidote treatment. “Every minute matters when dealing with botulism,” the ministry warned. This outbreak is a stark reminder that food safety can be a matter of life and death.