Botox sandwich on the Diamante seafront: Neapolitan man dies and seven family members are hospitalized.

Diamante– A vacation that was supposed to be a relaxing seaside getaway turned tragic. A sandwich purchased from a food truck on the Diamante seafront in the province of Cosenza cost the life of Luigi Di Sarno, 52, from Naples, and sent seven other family members to the hospital.

The hypothesis is that of a serious poisoning by botulinum, one of the most dangerous toxins for the human body.

The victim, along with his relatives, had eaten a sausage and broccoli sandwich purchased from a street vendor in one of the busiest areas of the Tyrrhenian town. Shortly after eating it, the man experienced the first symptoms: nausea, general malaise, and fatigue.

He attempted to return to Naples with his family, but on the way he suffered a sudden deterioration in his condition. The rush to the hospital in Lagonegro, Basilicata, proved futile: Di Sarno died before receiving adequate treatment.

Meanwhile, seven other family members who had shared the same meal were admitted to Annunziata Hospital in Cosenza: two 17-year-old teenagers, a 42-year-old woman, and four other people.

All exhibit symptoms consistent with botulism, a rare but extremely dangerous form of food poisoning caused by contaminated food, often poorly stored or prepared in unhygienic conditions.

The Paola Public Prosecutor's Office, led by Chief Prosecutor Domenico Fiordalisi, has opened an investigation. The van that started the outbreak has been seized. Investigators are examining the food storage and preparation methods, as well as the vendor's authorizations.

The alarm: be careful of food sold on the street

The incident once again shines a spotlight on a widespread and dangerous phenomenon: street food sold without health checks.

In summer, tourist resorts like Diamante are filled with street vendors selling sandwiches, fried foods, drinks, and "typical" products, often stored in precarious conditions, without refrigeration and without any guarantee of hygiene or health.

Botulism – doctors explain – can develop in poorly preserved foods, especially in the presence of meat or vegetables in oil or vacuum-packed, and represents a lethal danger: just a few micrograms are enough to cause severe neuromuscular paralysis and, in the most extreme cases, death.

The Cosenza Hospital has announced a press conference for tomorrow to review the conditions of its patients and the health measures adopted.

The warning to tourists

The Diamante tragedy should serve as a warning to the many tourists who flock to southern Italy's seaside resorts during the summer. The allure of cheap, homemade, ready-to-eat food must not obscure the risks associated with lack of supervision, poor hygiene, and inadequate storage.

Buying food from unauthorized or unreliable street vendors can turn a carefree vacation into a family drama. Food safety isn't a minor detail: it's a matter of protecting public health.