Botulism Outbreak: Guacamole Claims Lives at Italian Festival

A vibrant street food festival in the Sardinian city of Cagliari ended in tragedy after two women died and two children were left in critical condition from a rare outbreak of botulism traced to guacamole served at the event.

The victims

Valeria Solai, 62, a school cook and mother, collapsed after eating a guacamole dish at the late-July festival. She spent weeks on a ventilator, with doctors initially hopeful for her recovery. But her condition worsened suddenly, and she died earlier this week. Her body is scheduled for autopsy.

Earlier this month, another festivalgoer, 38-year-old Roberta Pitzalis, also died after consuming the same guacamole. A post-mortem revealed she succumbed to a combination of botulism poisoning and pneumonia.

Two children, a 14-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy, remain hospitalized in critical condition as doctors fight to save their lives.

Sardinia city of Cagliari (Photo: shutterstock/Roman Babakin)

A rare but deadly outbreak

Italian media report that the guacamole was contaminated with a toxin responsible for botulism, a rare but often fatal illness that attacks the nervous system. The outbreak prompted authorities to shut down the festival, which was due to move on to the city of Tortolì.

The Italian Health Ministry has since issued a nationwide warning, urging the public not to consume avocado spreads linked to the event.

“This is absurd. You go out for a relaxing evening, eat a sandwich, and end up in the hospital,” Solai’s cousin told reporters. “She was with her sisters, they all ate the same food, but only she got sick.”

Not an isolated case

The Sardinia incident comes just weeks after another botulism outbreak in Calabria, southern Italy. Two people there died after eating sandwiches from a food stall near the town of Diamante, and at least 17 others, including teenagers, required hospitalization.

Authorities in Calabria launched a nationwide recall of commercially produced sandwiches, seized the food stand, and opened an investigation. Nine individuals are under scrutiny, including the stall owners, three employees of the sandwich supplier, and five doctors accused of delaying urgent care.

Public Health Warning:

Botulism is extremely rare but can be fatal. Italian health officials urge anyone experiencing symptoms such as blurred vision, muscle weakness, or difficulty breathing after consuming avocado products to seek immediate medical care.