Seven cases of type B botulism from two unrelated outbreaks in different communities in Italy occurred in August and October. Clostridium botulinum, type b, had been isolated from the stool of some of the ill persons. Based on food histories, commercially prepared, eggplant in oil was the suspected vehicle. No consumer eggplant was available for testing. The eggplant was produced by one company and sold exclusively in Italy. Eggplant from the same lot that caused the outbreak was tested; Clostridium botulinum was not detected. The acidity of the product was variable. Twenty percent of the jars tested had a pH greater than 4.6 which could have contributed to bacterial growth.