Tragedy in Rome: 9‑year-old's death sparks allergy debate
A 9-year-old girl, Martina F., died after eating gnocchi at a restaurant in Rome. The cause was an anaphylactic shock due to a wheat allergy. This tragedy has shaken the whole of Italy and sparked a debate about the safety of people with allergies.
Martina and her mother went to a clinic for lung tests. After their appointment, they decided to have lunch at a restaurant in Rome. The girl ordered gnocchi.
Gnocchi are Italian dumplings from potatoes, wheat flour, and eggs. Sometimes, cheese, such as ricotta, or other ingredients are added. Gnocchi are shaped like small, round, or elongated dumplings that become delicate and soft when cooked.
Half an hour after the meal, Martina became unwell. She experienced severe cramps, nausea, vomiting, and difficulty breathing. Worried, her mother administered Ventolin, a bronchodilator, but Martina's condition rapidly deteriorated.
An ambulance was called. The paramedics administered adrenaline, but Martina suffered cardiac arrest in the ambulance. Despite resuscitation and the efforts of doctors at the hospital, she passed away the following day.
Martina's parents, though divorced, jointly decided to donate her organs for transplantation to help other children. This tragedy has sparked a wide-ranging debate in Italy about food allergies and restaurant safety protocols.
An enormous tragedy in Italy. The mother of the 9-year-old spoke out
Italian law requires clear labelling of allergens on menus and staff training in this area. However, whether the restaurant where Martina dined was compliant with these regulations is unclear. An investigation is currently underway.
I asked the restaurant to check the gnocchi packaging. We were always vigilant; I don't know how this happened. I am devastated," Martina's mother said in an interview with the Italian newspaper "Corriere della Sera."
The girl's funeral took place on Tuesday, 10th December. It was attended by family, friends, teachers, and classmates who bid farewell to Martina by releasing dozens of white balloons into the sky.
She was ever smiling, full of life. She left us too soon, in a way that is both wrong and unacceptable," one of her teachers said emotionally.
