Italy Woman Dies After Eating 'Vegan' Tiramisu

A woman died after she ate what was marketed as a "vegan" tiramisu. The 20-year-old had ordered the plant-based dessert due to her severe milk allergy.

Most tiramisu contains eggs and milk, but there is a plant-based version of the dessert, which is typically made with aquafaba, vegan yogurt, and coconut milk, meaning it is dairy-free and free of any animal products.

Knowing she had a milk allergy, the woman ordered a "vegan" tiramisu, however, she passed away shortly after eating the dessert.

On January 26, 2023, 20-year-old Anna Bellisario was out to dinner with her boyfriend at a vegan burger chain called Flower Burger in Milan, Italy. She ordered a dish called “Tiramisun Mascherpa".

Knowing she had a severe allergy to milk, the 20-year-old made sure to check the label to see what ingredients were listed, (the desserts served at Flower Burger are pre-made) but she still asked for "more information" before consuming the dessert, Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reported.

After clearing the ingredients to ensure there were no dairy products, the woman ate a few spoonfuls of the tiramisu, but shortly thereafter, she began coughing and having trouble breathing. The report states she ran to the bathroom to try to make herself vomit and she took asthma medication.

She also tried to use cortisone, which she carries with her, however, she lost consciousness due to anaphylactic shock.

The woman was in a coma for 10 days at Milan’s San Raffaele Hospital. She passed away on February 5, 2023 and an autopsy was ordered at the time.

Anna Bellisario had suffered from a milk allergy since she was born. She reportedly ate at Flower Burger multiple times in the past and never had an issue.

The mother and daughter who run the pastry company behind the "vegan" tiramisu are currently being investigated. They could be charged with manslaughter. Italian Insider has identified the pastry company as Tiramisun.

Tiramisun supplies pre-made desserts to the vegan burger restaurant that Anna Bellisario and her boyfriend ate at. They also supply desserts for 62 other restaurants in Italy.

Following the incident, the Italian Ministry of Health ordered that the “vegan” tiramisu be recalled. After further investigation, traces of milk and milk protein were found in the tiramisu produced by Tiramisun.

Plus, traces of egg were found in the "vegan" mayonnaise which was spread on the sandwich that the 20-year-old ordered while at the restaurant.

It is believed that the pastry shop "mixed up" orders for one of the desserts containing milk. "Earlier this week prosecutors Tiziana Siciliano and Luca Gaglio showed a reconstruction from a wiretap to judge Fiammetta Modica who ordered a ban on the owners of the shop," stating it is “a worrying picture of unscrupulousness," according to The Mirror.

The "plant-based" tiramisu and the "vegan" mayonnaise consumed by Anna Bellisario are not the only products the Italian Ministry of Health found to contain traces of dairy. Last year, the pudding served at the pastry shop was removed as it possibly contained milk not shown by its label.