Following the botulism poisoning cases in Sardinia and Calabria, which resulted in four deaths, nationwide checks are being stepped up. Hundreds of reused glass jars, some still dirty, ready to be refilled; numerous containers of homemade jams, unlabeled and non-compliant; over 1,500 jars and bottles of jams and fruit juices, mostly unlabeled, dating back to 2010, 2012, and 2018: these are what the NAS (National Anti-Corruption and Prevention Unit) of Bologna discovered at a farm in the province, active in the production and sale of jams and fruit juices.

The inspection occurred during a series of recent checks as part of the "Quiet Summer 2025" food safety and prevention campaign, ordered by the Carabinieri Health Protection Command in Rome and intensified following the latest cases of botulism . The inspections at the Bologna-based company also revealed the total inadequacy of the pasteurization procedures adopted , which fail to guarantee the safety of the preserves and expose consumers to the risk of developing botulinum toxin.

The Carabinieri found the processing and storage areas in precarious hygienic conditions, characterized by dirt, dust, cobwebs, and guano . Outside the facility, the officers also observed the preparation of tomato puree in a rusty copper pot, fueled by discarded pallet wood. Upon completion of the inspection, the Carabinieri seized 674 kilos of jams and fruit juices, with an estimated value of over €15,000.

The Local Health Authority was informed of the inspection findings and ordered the immediate suspension of the production, storage, and trade of canned food, estimated at approximately €150,000 . For the violations found, administrative fines totaling €4,500 were imposed.

(Unioneonline)

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