A food festival in Sardinia has ended in further tragedy as a second person has died after being poisoned by a toxic batch of guacamole. The fatally contaminated avocado dip has now claimed the lives of two women and left two children battling for survival in hospital.
Valeria Sollai, a 62-year-old school cook, collapsed after eating the contaminated guacamole at the Fiesta Latina food event in Monserrato, Cagliari. She was then rushed to hospital and spent weeks fighting for survival whilst on life support. Despite tragically showing signs of improving Valeria died on Monday, August 18, a post mortem is due to take place.
Her cousin Gianni Milia said: “It’s absurd that someone goes out for a relaxing evening, goes to a party, eats a sandwich and ends up in the hospital.
“She was with her sisters, they all ate the same sandwich, but only she fell ill.”
She added: “They were celebrating their older sister’s discharge from the hospital. A party turned into a tragedy.”
Valeria’s death comes just over a week after Roberta Pitzalis, 38, who also ate from the same deadly batch, died on August 8. Several people who ate the avocado-based dip from a stand at the Fiesta Latina in Cagliari, between July 22-24 were also hospitalised.
The travelling festival was on its way to Tortolì but was quickly suspended by local authorities following the outbreak.
A boy, 11, remains in hospital in serious condition after eating a taco with guacamole in it, he was airlifted to Rome’s Gemelli Policlinico.
A 14-year-old girl is also still in hospital after eating from the same batch of guacamole and is being treated at Monserrato Policlinico.
The Cagliari Public Prosecutor’s Office has launched an investigation into the incident and a recall notice, published by the Ministry of Health.
“Following two major clusters of botulinum intoxication that occurred in recent weeks in Sardinia and Calabria, the Department of Prevention, Research and Health Emergencies of the Ministry of Health immediately activated all the health protocols,” the health ministry said.