I think it's pretty fair for people to be worried about food poisoning. It's not an uncommon thing, and when it hits, it hits hard. It can even lead to death in some cases. But, that's a rare occurrence. So, when it happens, investigators have to look a little deeper.
As reported by People, Sara Di Vita, 15, and her mother, Antonella Di Ielsi, 50, died within hours of each other between December 27 and December 28, 2025. The incident happened in Italy.
Outlets reported that the mother and daughter died at Cardarelli hospital in Campobasso after falling seriously ill on Christmas day. They reported that their deaths were first attributed to severe food poisoning.
After they visited the emergency room, citing stomach issues, doctors diagnosed them with food poisoning and gastroenteritis. The 15-year-old's father, Gianni Di Vita, a former mayor, was also hospitalized with similar symptoms. But, he has since recovered.
But, according to local media outlets, tests have shown that their Christmas meal was poisoned with ricin. Ricin is a deadly poison that can kill with a very small dose. Traces of ricin were found in the blood of both women, as well as in the mother's hair.
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There Are No Suspects in the Poisoning Case At the Moment
Although doctors are under investigaiton for alleged negligence in connection with the pair's deaths, no suspects have been cited in the ongoing investigation at the moment.
Dr. Vincenzo Cuzzone, who is the head of intensive care at the hospital where the pair died, explained the speed at which things happened. He said that they first experienced liver failure, and then multi-organ failure "at truly unparalleled speed."
But, investigators are certainly looking for them. They are currently looking at family members as well as their network of acquaintances to try and find who is reponsible.
As well as this, the local police force has said they cannot comment on the case at this time. But, the fact that ricin was the poison used means that the people responsible could have criminal ties.
This is a truly tragic incident, may the pair rest in peace. We hope that their family gets justice.
