Forty people reportedly became ill with diarrhoea and vomiting after attending a wedding reception at a hotel in Malaga, in what authorities suspect may be a food poisoning outbreak.
The wedding celebration was held at the Hotel Estival Torrequebrada in Benalmadena on Saturday, October 10.
According to the Junta de Andalucia’s health delegation in Malaga, guests experienced diarrhoea, stomach pain, nausea and vomiting. Some also developed a fever.
Several affected guests went to hospital for medical checks, but none required admission, The Spanish Eye reported.
Health officials are investigating whether the illness was caused by food served as part of the wedding menu.
Inspectors from the Health Protection Unit are examining the reception arrangements and carrying out checks to identify the possible source of the outbreak.
Authorities have not yet confirmed the precise cause of the illnesses.
The incident is not the first wedding reception to be overshadowed by suspected food poisoning.
Forty wedding guests reportedly fell ill with diarrhoea and vomiting following a suspected food poisoning outbreak at a Malaga hotel
The wedding reception was held at the Hotel Estival Torrequebrada in Benalmadena on Saturday, October 10
In 2024, more than 100 guests at a wedding in Mexico reportedly became seriously ill after eating a four-course meal, with 80 people taken to hospital.
Aranza Rodríguez was among those attending the ceremony in Cuernavaca, in central Mexico. She was taken to a Red Cross hospital, where doctors treated her for a bacterial infection.
Rodríguez told Mexican newspaper Proceso that she had been invited by the groom, Fernando. The wedding celebrations began at about 4pm, while dinner was scheduled for 6pm.
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She said she arrived at the venue between 8pm and 9pm and saw numerous guests suffering what she described as “aggravated symptoms”, including headaches, stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhoea.
Even as ambulances began arriving, Rodríguez ordered her meal and ate at around 10pm.
Her starter consisted of wild mushrooms with goat cheese and tomato coulis.
The main course was chicken breast stuffed with spinach, served with tarragon, sweet potato purée and winter asparagus. Rodríguez said male guests received a different menu, including meat with whiskey sauce.
She could not identify which dish made her ill, but remembered that the mushrooms had an aftertaste resembling a “very strong chemical”. She said she noticed the same smell after becoming sick.
Videos shared on social media captured the chaotic scene as paramedics, hotel staff and unaffected guests tried to help those who had fallen ill.
One clip showed at least two women bent over in their chairs, apparently after vomiting.
Another video showed multiple guests lying on hospital beds and receiving IV treatment.
An image of the menu revealed guests were served an appetizer featuring wild mushroom with goat cheese and tomato coulis as well as beet carpaccio with mango, pico de gallo.
The entrée included sun dried tomato cream and crispy goat cheese with chives and a pistachio and pear dry cream. The main course option were chicken breast stuffed with spinach, tarragon, sweet potato puree and winter asparagus.
The second choice was a beef fillet breaded with whiskey and almond sauce, vegetable skewer and a bed of potatoes.
For dessert, friends of the couple were served apple rosette with supreme lime, blossom ice cream, chocolate and walnut cheesecake melon or milk flower chemise.
While men and women appeared to be served different foods, both genders became ill, she said.
