Dozens Fall Ill at Malaga Wedding in Suspected Food Poisoning Outbreak

A suspected food poisoning outbreak sickened around 40 guests at a wedding reception held at the Hotel Estival Torrequebrada in Benalmadena, Malaga, on Saturday, October 10.

Attendees experienced symptoms such as diarrhea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and nausea, with some also reporting fever, according to the Junta de Andalucia's health delegation in Malaga. While affected guests sought medical attention at local hospitals, none required admission.

Health officials have initiated an investigation into the suspected foodborne illness and are conducting checks to pinpoint the source of the outbreak. The exact cause remains unconfirmed.

This incident echoes a previous event in 2024, where a wedding in Cuernavaca, Mexico, resulted in over 100 guests becoming ill and 80 being hospitalized. In that case, attendees reported headaches, stomach pain, vomiting, and diarrhea after consuming a multi-course meal. One guest recalled a distinct chemical aftertaste from a wild mushroom appetizer, which she also noted after becoming sick.

Footage shared on social media at the time showed paramedics attending to guests, with some lying on hospital beds receiving intravenous treatment. The menu at the Mexican wedding included options like wild mushroom with goat cheese, beet carpaccio, chicken breast stuffed with spinach, or beef fillet with whiskey sauce, followed by various dessert choices. Both male and female guests were affected by the illness.