A new food alert due to a suspected botulinum risk brings attention to one of the most feared contaminations, which this time concerns a typical product of the Campania tradition: broccoli in oil. Specifically, the recall concerns Neapolitan-style broccoli friarelli in sunflower seed oil under the Sapurè brand, Pina flavours, packaged in 940 gram (1,062 ml) glass jars.
The recalled lot
The Ministry of Health website has published the precautionary recall of the SAP/BR/85R batch, with a minimum shelf life of 30 March 2028, precisely due to the suspected presence of Clostridium botulinumthe bacterium that produces the toxin responsible for botulism.
The product was made in the Sapurè Srl company factory in via Vicinale Filettine 14, in Pagani (Salerno).
The withdrawal was ordered as a precaution by the manufacturer itself, but the news still causes concern. The Clostridium botulinum it can develop in foods stored improperly or in the absence of oxygen, as in the case of homemade or industrial preserves in oil that are not adequately sterilized. Even very small quantities of botulinum toxin can cause serious neurological damage and, in the most extreme cases, paralysis or death.
Anyone who has purchased the recalled product must not consume it and can return it to the point of sale for a refund. Even if there are currently no cases of poisoning linked to this lot, caution is a must.
Botulinum is back in the news
In recent months, some food alerts linked to botulinum have already occurred, reminders that remind us of how essential it is to scrupulously respect safety standards during the production and preservation of food, even in the home, where improvisation can be very risky.
Read also: Suspected botulinum: these batches of Neapolitan-style broccoli in oil have been recalled
Botulinum: symptoms and prevention
Foodborne botulism generally occurs within 24 to 72 hours of consuming the contaminated product, with symptoms such as blurred vision, difficulty swallowing, muscle weakness and progressive paralysis. The Ministry and the Istituto Superiore di Sanità recommend not consuming preserves that have swelling, abnormal odors or bubbles and to pay attention to the methods of preserving products in oil, even those purchased in supermarkets.
