After a serious intoxication that involved numerous people on a party in the province of Cagliari, the Marn Metro Metro Italia Distribution company has recalled some pulp lots of avocado pulp from trade, which could be contaminated by botulinum toxin.
The suspicious food exams have not yet been completed and consequently it has not been possible to establish whether they are actually contaminated by the botulinum or by other dangerous substances or pathogens. Metro, however, recommends not to consume the product and to return it to the store where it was sold.
The call of the Avocado pulp
The product that may have been contaminated by the botulinum is the Avocado Metro Chef pulp, which had been used for the preparation of a sauce at the party. The packs are those of a kilo and the lots that could be dangerous for health are:
- the Lotto Li4218;
- the Lotto Li4213.
The company that produces the pulp is the Dutch Salud Food Group Europe, which uses products from Peru. The call was confirmed by the Ministry of Health, which published the information of the potentially contaminated lots on its website. Metro wrote in a press release:
The quality and safety of the products are, in fact, per meter an absolute priority: the company has promptly adopted all the necessary measures to protect customers’ health, alerting them with incident, in full compliance with current legislation. Metro is in constant contact with local authorities, we will provide updates just available.
The intoxication to the party
The discovery of this possible contamination has happened abnormally with respect to the practice with which the Ministry of Health recalls certain products that can be dangerous if ingested. Normally, in fact, contaminations are discovered during the checks carried out by the authorities, before the products can actually cause damage.
In this case, however, the call took place after four people, including an 11 -year -old boy, were hospitalized in the neurology department of the Brotzu hospital in Cagliari. All had participated in the same local festival, with a South American theme, in which an avocado -based sauce produced with the attracted lots had been served.
The party ended on July 25, but the call came only on 1 August. Three of the four hospitalized people have in the meantime be discharged. Only the 11 -year -old boy would remain in the hospital.
The dangers of botulinum
With the term botulinum often refers to both a bacterium and to the toxin and this pathogen to secrete. This substance is among the most dangerous poisons for man. 75 nanograms are enough to kill an adult. The symptoms of the intoxication are:
- paralysis;
- Diplopia (split view);
- difficulty of movement.
The bacterium of the botulinum develops in not well preserved foods. Usually each contamination is eliminated from cooking, but in the foods that are eaten raw, such as avocado or preserves, the toxin remains and risks intoxicating those who consume them.
