> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Pesto linked to botulism cases in Poland - URL: https://www.foodsafetynews.com/2026/09/pesto-linked-to-botulism-cases-in-poland/ - Published: 2026-09-11T04:01:13.000Z - Updated: 2026-09-11T04:01:12.000Z - Description: The company said it was taking all necessary steps to fully clarify the matter - Author: Joe Whitworth - Tags: outbreaks, 2026 outbreaks, botulism, Clostridium botulinum, Poland, pesto A batch of pesto has been recalled in Poland as officials investigate two cases of botulism. Testing commissioned by the State Sanitary Inspectorate indicated the possible presence of botulinum toxin in one batch of a green basil pesto sauce with peanuts, walnuts and cheeses, based on detection of a relevant gene in a product sample collected during an epidemiological investigation. In early August, symptoms occurred in a 34-year-old man and a 35-year-old woman. The man was diagnosed with botulism, but serological testing is ongoing. He reported swallowing difficulties, double vision, vomiting, diarrhea and difficulty speaking. The woman was also diagnosed with botulism and the presence of botulinum toxin was found in serum. Information from an interview revealed she had double vision, and difficulty swallowing and speaking. The affected product is sold under the Łowicz brand and was recalled in late August. It is called “Pesto alla Genovese. Zielony sos bazyliowy Pesto z orzechami arachidowymi i włoskimi serami.” The 180-gram jar has batch number L605192FEI and a date of August 2027. The manufacturer has initiated a product recall, placed a hold on stock in the warehouse, and is notifying partners, requesting that they halt sales of the implicated batch. The producer has sent samples from the quarantined batch to an external accredited laboratory for testing. **Company in contact with authorities** “We ask consumers who have purchased this product not to consume it and to return it to the point of sale,” read a consumer notice on the Łowicz website. MW Food Sp. z o.o. is part of the Maspex Group and produces the Łowicz brand. A spokesperson from Maspex told **Food Safety News** that after receiving information from the State Sanitary Inspectorate about the possible contamination, it took steps to investigate and verify the product's safety. “These activities included, among other things, a comprehensive review of the production process and related documentation, as well as additional laboratory testing of product samples and raw materials for the presence of mesophilic anaerobic spore-forming bacteria and Clostridium botulinum type D. Initial test results are satisfactory; the presence of these microorganisms was not detected in the tested samples,” the spokesperson said. A full set of test results are pending. Two inspections by the State Sanitary Inspectorate at the facility revealed no irregularities. Officials collected samples from the implicated batch and from the facility, for testing. “The Łowicz-brand Pesto alla Genovese is produced using properly developed and validated technological processes, and its safety and quality are confirmed through systematic testing of both raw materials and finished products. Product monitoring takes place at every stage of the production process, from the receipt of raw materials to the creation of the finished product. The product has been on the market since 2022, and throughout the entire sales period, we have received no reports regarding safety issues,” said the spokesperson. According to a notice on the Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF), the pesto was also distributed to the Netherlands. In foodborne botulism, symptoms generally begin 18 to 36 hours after eating contaminated food. However, they can occur as soon as 6 hours after or up to 10 days later. Symptoms may include double or blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing or breathing, paralysis, a thick-feeling tongue, dry mouth, and muscle weakness. Anyone who experiences these symptoms should immediately seek medical attention.