Italian officials suspect that a brand of olive and almond cream caused two cases of botulism.
In early May, two adult patients, part of the same family, were hospitalized because of suspected botulism with epidemiological investigations led by experts from the Toscana Centro local health authority (ASL).
A notice on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) details two cases of botulism following consumption of olive and almond cream.
Botulinum poisoning is a rare but life-threatening condition caused by toxins produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria.
Recalls in Italy and Malta
The Italiamo brand Crema di olive e mandorle in 190-gram jars was recalled by Lidl.
Health authorities requested a precautionary recall of the product, which has a date of Sept. 1, 2028, and lot number L244R. The move was part of an epidemiological investigation, pending results of microbiological tests. The product was packaged at the Simens Alimentare Srl plant in Padova.
Consumers were advised not to eat the product and to return it to the point of sale for a refund, even without showing the receipt.
The olive and almond cream was also sent to Malta, where it has been recalled.
The Food Safety and Security Authority informed the public after receiving information through RASFF and advised people to dispose of the item or take it back to the store.
The agency said the product must not be consumed since it is potentially contaminated with Clostridium botulinum, which makes it unsafe.
Italy has one of the highest botulism rates in Europe with one factor being a strong home canning tradition in the country. From 1986 to September 2022, 406 botulism incidents involving 599 people were laboratory-confirmed.
About botulism
Food contaminated with the spores that produce botulism toxins does not look, smell or taste bad.
While a variety of food poisoning can result from eating under-processed food, one of the most dangerous is botulism poisoning. Untreated, botulism can paralyze the muscles needed for breathing, resulting in sudden death.
Anyone who has eaten any recalled products and developed signs of botulism poisoning should immediately seek medical attention.
In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, symptoms can begin as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later.
The symptoms of botulism may include some or all of the following: double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, difficulty breathing, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. People with botulism poisoning may not show all of these symptoms at once.
These symptoms result from muscle paralysis caused by the toxin. If untreated, the disease may progress, and symptoms may worsen to cause paralysis of muscles, including those used in breathing and those in the arms, legs, and the body from the neck to the pelvis area.
