Olympic fencing champion Aldo Montano suffers anaphylactic shock after Rome dinner, despite allergy warning
Olympic fencing gold medallist Aldo Montano was rushed to hospital on 1 July after suffering anaphylactic shock during a dinner in Rome, despite informing restaurant staff of his severe allergy to casein.
The incident
On the evening of 1 July 2026, Aldo Montano, the Olympic gold medallist in sabre fencing, dined at a restaurant in Rome. Before ordering, he informed the staff of his severe allergy to casein, a milk protein. Despite the warning, one of the dishes contained traces of the allergen. Within minutes, Montano began experiencing symptoms that rapidly escalated into anaphylactic shock.
I am allergic to casein. It is not a whim, not a food fad, not an intolerance. It is a potentially fatal allergy. Yet it happened again. During a dinner in a restaurant in Rome, after clearly communicating my allergy, I found myself fighting for my life.
His friend Gianmarco D'Eusebio, who was dining with him, rushed him to the nearest hospital, Santo Spirito.
Medical response
Montano arrived at the emergency department at 21:18 on 1 July in serious respiratory difficulty. Doctors administered adrenaline immediately, and the therapy began to take effect. He remained under observation for several hours to prevent a relapse and was discharged the following morning, 2 July, at 7:15.
The patient's survival is the greatest reward. We feel we must express our sincere thanks to Olympic champion Aldo Montano, because when our work is perceived and valued in its complexity, as he did by writing about it on social media, the civic sense that every citizen should have emerges.
Montano publicly thanked the three doctors who treated him: Roberta Baldoncini, Annalisa Filippi, and Tiziano Carluccio.
- Montano dines at Rome restaurant, informs staff of casein allergy; suffers anaphylactic shock
- Arrives at Santo Spirito Hospital in serious respiratory difficulty, receives adrenaline
- Discharged after overnight monitoring
Montano's warning
In an Instagram post, Montano condemned the superficiality and lack of preparedness he encountered. He stressed that food allergies are not intolerances and that even minimal exposure can be fatal. He called for a cultural shift in how restaurants and food services handle allergy declarations.
In 2026 it is unacceptable that there is still superficiality, unpreparedness and such a serious underestimation of food allergies. When a person informs staff of an allergy, they are not asking for a favour: they are handing their life over to those who prepare and serve that dish.
Allergists call for action
The episode prompted renewed calls from Italian allergists for systemic change. Mario Di Gioacchino, professor of allergology at the University of Chieti-Pescara and former president of SIAAIC, highlighted the confusion between allergies and intolerances. He noted that allergies can be fatal even with trace amounts of allergen, and advocated for a law requiring adrenaline auto-injectors in schools and public venues, similar to defibrillators.
The difference is substantial. Allergies, unlike intolerances, are potentially fatal and do not depend on the quantity of allergen ingested. Even minimal exposure can cause a very serious reaction.
Immunologist Mauro Minelli echoed the concern, calling the lack of understanding among food service operators unacceptable and urging mandatory specific training for anyone handling food for the public.
Broader context
Montano's case is not isolated. Di Gioacchino recalled recent tragedies: a 16-year-old boy died in Casoria in May, and a 15-year-old girl, Sofia, died in April during a basketball retreat in Ostia after a severe allergic reaction. These deaths, along with Montano's near-fatal experience, have spurred a cross-party parliamentary group to work on legislation addressing food allergy management. The hospital noted that Montano did not disclose the restaurant's name in his medical record, and it is unclear whether he has filed a formal complaint.
