Over 60 holidaymakers at a bustling  tourist resort have fallen ill after eating hot dogs and chips at a resort restaurant.

The tourists at Nicotera Marina in Calabria, Italy, were struck down with botulism poisoning, leaving five in a serious condition in hospital.

Among those affected were several visitors from Naples and Caserta, who reported symptoms such as vomiting and diarrhoea.

The Anti-Adulteration and Health Unit (NAS) of the Carabinieri swiftly intervened on site and ordered the immediate closure of the restaurant as a precautionary measure.

Several children were also among the victims. The alarm was sounded when multiple guests began to exhibit symptoms in quick succession.

In addition to shutting down the restaurant, the Carabinieri also confiscated over 300 kilograms of food, reports the Mirror.

Food samples were dispatched to a laboratory for analysis to ascertain any potential liability, according to Il Fatto.

The Carabinieri sealed off the kitchen, carried out preliminary investigations, and destroyed the stored food. Among the foods to be scrutinised are some frankfurters, which were part of the meal that led to the illness.

Just a few weeks ago in Cosenza, tainted food from a food truck resulted in the tragic death of two people and seven others being admitted to hospital due to the toxin.

Giuseppe Marasco, mayor of Nicotera, expressed his concern on Facebook: “Best wishes for a speedy recovery to all those involved in this sad incident.

“However, it should be noted and clarified that this event in no way concerns any of the restaurants in our area, which are freely accessible. The restaurants in our community are renowned for their commitment to food safety and the quality of the products they offer. Every establishment is subject to rigorous checks to ensure compliance with high standards of hygiene and safety.

“I invite you to continue to visit our restaurants, which are an essential part of our culinary culture and tradition. Your trust is essential to supporting our sector and continuing to promote the excellence of our gastronomy.”

Back in August, several similar incidents took place nationwide.

Just days earlier in Formia, situated along the Lazio coast, ten tourists aged between 50 and 60 fell ill following a meal at a beachside establishment.

Even more concerning were the botulism poisoning cases that made headlines earlier that month.

Approximately a week prior, news broke of the death of Valeria Sollai, a 62 year old woman who died at Policlinico di Monserrato hospital in the province of Cagliari, where she had been undergoing treatment for weeks in intensive care. Sollai had attended and consumed guacamole-based dishes at the Fiesta Latina in Monserrato.

On 8 August, 36 year old Roberta Pitzalis also perished after being poisoned by the bacterium during the same event. And even before that, in Calabria, Luigi Di Sarno also died from botulism.

In his case, the “culprit” food was a sandwich with broccoli and sausage.