Suspected Listeria contamination in Trani, 1 death

A case of contamination by ‘Listeria monocytogenes’ may have resulted in the death of a 70-year-old man on 3 April at the hospital in Bisceglie, Province of Barletta-Andria-Trani, Italy. It has been reported that the individual was affected by a listeria infection, which was contracted after consuming olives bought from a supermarket in the centre of Trani. Following inspections, the supermarket was found to have olive samples contaminated by the bacterium. Consequently, the health authorities ordered the supermarket’s closure to allow further investigations and sanitisation. While a direct correlation between the death and the closed store has not yet been established, ongoing checks are being conducted to clarify any potential connection. The presence of the bacterium has also been confirmed in some food products still sealed and unplaced on the market. The supermarket manager has decided to suspend the sale of olives in all stores in the network as a precautionary measure. This decision follows an interruption in supplies from potentially involved suppliers and the initiation of new environmental checks.