Contaminated tacos sold at a food festival in Italy have allegedly caused a fatal outbreak of botulism.
Eight people were hospitalised and two killed after consuming tacos from a Mexican food stall at Fiesta Latina last month.
The Sun reports guacamole sold at the festival, held between July 22 and 24 on Sardinia, is suspected to be responsible for the outbreak.
An investigation has been opened into the foodborne origin, with tests of the guacamole being carried out at Rome’s National Institute of Health.
Identified as Metro Chef’s avocado pulp, the imported ingredient has been recalled from sale following the incident.
A spokesperson for the company said they have “promptly taken all necessary measures to protect customers’ health, alerting them about the incident, in full compliance with current regulations”.
Botulism is caused by a toxin that aggressively attacks the nervous system, causing muscle weakness, paralysis and trouble breathing.
Two children are still being treated for the poisoning, a boy, aged 11, and a girl, aged 14.
Reports say the boy has been transferred to a Rome hospital and remains in a very serious condition.
The two dead are Valeria Sollai, 62, and Roberta Pitzalis, 38.
Sollai, a school cook, showed signs of recovery and was discharged from hospital shortly before her death.
According to The US Sun, Monserrato mayor Tomaso Locci described the regional outbreak as “a loss that affects us all”.
The incident follows two other botulism deaths in Calabria, alleged to have been caused by a turnip greens and sausage panini.
Sollai’s son Alessandro urged the public to be careful about what they consume in an impassioned Facebook post.
“I strongly advise against eating any food sold at street stalls over the next few weeks.”
Both contaminations have drawn attention to Italy’s food safety compliance.
The nation has a prevalent tradition of home preservation, increasing the risk of contamination as the botulinum toxin thrives in improperly preserved and canned foods.