Prosecutors in Prato have put three
people under investigation after 246 pupils and 23 adults
working at schools in Calenzano, Sesto Fiorentino, Campi
Bisenzio, Barberino di Mugello, and Carmignano were struck down
by suspected salmonellosis in September.
Of these people, 98 went to the emergency room and 23 were
hospitalised.
Prosecutors suspect that the food poisoning was caused by raw
cherry tomatoes used as ingredients in school canteen meals that
had not been disinfected.
Investigations have staged searches regarding three senior
managers of the company that manages several school canteens in
the Florence and Prato areas.
The news of the investigation comes after three residents in a
Florence nursing home died this week of suspected fatal food
poisoning.
The deaths are suspected to be linked to a meal the deceased ate
at the nursing home before getting sick on Monday.
The meals were reportedly cooked at another nursing home in the
area of Florence which has been temporarily closed following the
incident.
The State Attorney's Office in Florence and local health
authority ASL Central Tuscany are investigating the incident.
The health authority is looking at 114 cases of gastroenteritis
among residents in four care homes in Florence and the
surrounding province.
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