One fatality and 118 individuals have been hospitalized following the consumption of food from a popular pizza establishment in Brazil, South America. The deceased has been identified as Raíssa Maritein Bezerra e Silva, a 44-year-old woman. She passed away after consuming pizza from a venue in Pombal, located in the Sertão region of Paraíba.

Raíssa was among over 100 people who fell ill with suspected food poisoning and were transported to two medical facilities in the area. Pombal Region Hospital reported that the woman was admitted on Monday with symptoms such as abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea, typical indicators of food poisoning. The hospital stated that her condition deteriorated rapidly, leading to her transfer to the Intensive Care Unit in critical condition with signs of a severe infection.

Sadly, Raíssa’s death was confirmed the following day at 8:59 am. Meanwhile, the lawyer representing the venue, La Favoritta, named Raquel Dantas, awaited further developments and participated in venue inspections conducted by the State Health Surveillance Agency, Agevisa.

A family member of Raíssa mentioned that she dined at the pizzeria with her boyfriend on Sunday evening, after which they both began feeling unwell and sought treatment at Pombal Region Hospital before returning the next morning.

Numerous patients exhibited food poisoning symptoms, including diarrhea, abdominal pain, and vomiting. The Emergency Care Unit (UPA) reported that by Tuesday morning, 40 patients had been treated for symptoms of food poisoning. In total, 74 individuals were admitted to the Pombal hospital with similar symptoms over Sunday and Monday.

Authorities responded by conducting inspections at the pizzeria and subsequently shutting it down due to health violations. Irregularities found included improper food storage, presence of insects, and overall lack of hygiene. The local council indicated that the case would be referred to Agevisa for further investigation and ongoing monitoring.

Following the inspection, health inspector Sérgio Freitas from Agevisa stated that the establishment was in serious violation of health regulations and was deemed unfit to operate. The owner of the pizzeria has been taken to the police station for investigation as health authorities await test results.

This tragic incident serves as a reminder of the importance of food safety regulations to prevent such unfortunate events in the future.