In the Bolognese, an inspection of the Nas carabinieri led to the seizure of 674 kilos of tomato puree and fruit juices considered a risk to public health. The operation is part of the national campaign “Quiet Summer 2025”, wanted by the Carabinieri Command for the protection of the health of Rome, which in recent months has intensified the checks after recent cases of botulism connected to the street food kiosks, which have aroused concern nationally and unfortunately led to the death of 4 people.
In recent years, several episodes of poisoning have been reported related to badly preserved products and sold without adequate checks, confirming the importance of keeping attention high not only on the sector by catering but also on that of the artisan preserves.
The irregularities found
Within the farm, the military found over 1,500 jars and bottles of jams and fruit juices without labels, partly dating back to 2010, 2012 and 2018. In some cases, the containers had already been used several times, still had traces of dirt and some had lost the vacuum.
The checks also ascertained inadequate pasteurization procedures, unable to guarantee the safety of products and to avoid the development of the dangerous botulinum toxin.
The picture was aggravated by the state of the processing and storage environments, characterized by dirt, dust, cobwebs and guano. Outside the structure, the carabinieri even discovered that the tomato puree was prepared in a rusty copper paper, fed with wood from abandoned pallets.
In the face of the serious deficiencies found, the AUSL ordered the immediate suspension of the production and sale of the preserves, estimated at around 150 thousand euros of commercial value. Violations also led to administrative penalties for a total of 4,500 euros.
The botulinum risk
The Clostridium botulinum It is a bacterium that can develop in preserves prepared incorrectly, producing a particularly dangerous toxin. Ingestion, even in minimal quantities, can cause serious intoxications with potentially lethal neurological consequences.
Not surprisingly, the Higher Institute of Health has repeatedly drawn attention to the importance of recognizing the preserves at risk, verifying the integrity of the jars, the absence of swellings in the cover and the correct labeling of the products.
The new seizure of the nas reiterates the need for rigid hygienic-sanitary checks and greater awareness by consumers. Choosing labeled products, be wary of home preserves without information and paying attention to the correct conservation of foods remain fundamental tools to protect their health.
Don’t you want to lose our news?
