An urgent recall has been issued in England for a pasta topping after the dangerous bacterium Clostridium botulinum was detected in some products from a specific batch. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxins, which are among the most lethal substances known, according to the World Health Organization. La Sovrana issued a recall for its jars of Vittoria Friarielli alla Napoletana on August 28, which is a type of broccoli in sunflower oil, with salt, chilli pepper, and garlic. 

The affected batch has the code 280325 and a best before date of 23 March 2028 and both the company and the Food Standards Agency have said to not eat this product. Clostridium botulinum produces botulinum toxins that can cause botulism, a serious form of food poisoning that can even be fatal.

The FSA risk statement reads: "The presence of botulism in the above product. Botulinum toxin may cause a serious form of food poisoning called botulism and can be fatal. 

"Symptoms caused by this organism include, feeling sick, being sick (vomiting), stomach cramps, diarrhoea or constipation, drooping eyelids, blurred or double vision, facial muscle weakness, difficulty swallowing, slurred speech and breathing difficulties.

"Public Health Authorities advise if you have consumed this product and have any concerns, you should seek urgent healthcare advice from healthcare professionals, using the most appropriate route depending on where you live, (i.e., visit your GP, call NHS 111)."

Symptoms typically develop within 4 hours to 8 days after ingestion, often appearing within 12 to 36 hours.

While botulism is rare, it is a medical emergency due to the high risk of paralysis and death if untreated.

Customers have been urged not to eat the product and to return it to the place of purchase for a full refund.

La Sovrana is a family-run business based in London. They operate a farm in Italy, from which they import their produce. 

This comes following four recent deaths linked to botulism in Italy. Two of the victims, Luigi di Sarno, 52, and Tamara D'Acunto, 45 had consumed friarielli and sausage sandwiches from a food vendor in Calabria.

There was a cluster in Calabria involving 18 individuals who, during the first week of August in Diamante, Cosenza province, ate sandwiches containing sausage and friarielli purchased from a street vendor.