# Italy raw‑milk cheese safety debate > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/italy-rawmilk-cheese-safety-debate > Updated: 2026-08-04T09:01:11.000Z. Sources: 64. Developments: 3. The deaths of three‑year‑old Elia in 2024 and 13‑year‑old Mattia Maestri in August 2026 have kept raw‑milk cheese safety at the centre of Italian public debate. After Elia’s parents testified before the Senate in July 2026, the Ministry of Health recalled Salmonella‑contaminated Salame Pepperino (lot 2602233) and several STEC‑contaminated raw‑goat‑milk cheeses, reinforcing the 2025 national guidelines. Mattia Maestri, who contracted a severe enterohaemorrhagic E. coli infection from a raw‑milk cheese in 2017, remained in a vegetative state for nine years before dying on 2 August 2026 (initial reports cited 4 August). The Trento public prosecutor opened a negligent‑homicide investigation, indicting former cheese‑factory manager Lorenzo Biasi and cheesemaker Gianluca Fornasari. His father, Giovanni Battista Maestri, refused monetary compensation and has led a campaign for mandatory warning labels and age‑based restrictions on raw‑milk cheeses for children, pregnant women, the elderly and immunocompromised people. The case has revived calls from advocacy groups, lawmakers and the Ministry of Health for stricter supply‑chain controls, mandatory labeling, and possible criminal liability for producers. A manslaughter investigation and aggravated negligent homicide complaint filed by the parents remain ongoing, while comprehensive legislation is still pending. ## Claims - Mattia Maestri died at age 13. (corroborated by 26 sources) - He contracted an infection with Shiga‑toxin‑producing Escherichia coli after eating raw‑milk cheese. (corroborated by 26 sources) - The infection caused hemolytic‑uremic syndrome (HUS) leading to permanent brain damage. (corroborated by 26 sources) - The case led to criminal convictions of two former dairy‑cooperative officials. (corroborated by 26 sources) - The family campaigned for mandatory warning labels on raw‑milk cheese products. (corroborated by 26 sources) - Mattia was receiving up to 47 different medications daily before his death. (corroborated by 26 sources) - His father, Giovanni Battista Maestri, announced his death publicly. (corroborated by 24 sources) - The contaminated cheese was produced by a dairy in Coredo, Val di Non, Italy. (corroborated by 4 sources) ## Timeline ### 2026-08-04: Italian teen Mattia Maestri dies after nine‑year coma from raw‑milk cheese E. coli infection Mattia Maestri, 13, died after nine years in a coma caused by E. coli‑contaminated raw‑milk cheese from Coredo, Italy; a negligent‑homicide probe has named two dairy officials, and his father is campaigning for 17 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-boy-mattia-maestri-dies-after-rawmilk-cheese-poisoning-sparks-safety-debate ### 2026-08-02: Mattia Maestri dies at 13 after nine years in coma from raw‑milk cheese infection Italian teen Mattia Maestri died at 13 after nine years in a coma caused by E. coli infection from contaminated raw‑milk cheese, prompting a national food‑safety debate. 48 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/mattia-maestri-13-dies-after-years-in-vegetative-state-from-rawmilk-cheese-e-coli-infection ### 2026-07-16: Italy seeks stricter raw‑milk cheese labeling after 3‑year‑old's death Three‑year‑old Elia died from raw‑milk cheese‑induced HUS; his parents appealed to the Italian Senate to pass a stalled bill mandating clear labeling on such cheeses. 8 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/italian-child-elias-death-prompts-call-for-stricter-rawmilk-cheese-labeling --- Cite as: Italy raw‑milk cheese safety debate. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/italy-rawmilk-cheese-safety-debate