FAQ - Botulism
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What are some common food listings that contain botulism toxin?


What causes food-borne botulism?

Food-borne botulism can be caused by eating contaminated home-canned foods that have a low acid content, such as asparagus, green beans, beets, and corn. However, there have been cases of botulism from more unusual sources, such as chopped garlic in oil, chile peppers, tomatoes, improperly handled baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, and home-canned or fermented fish.

In infants, botulism can result if a baby eats raw (unpasteurized) honey contaminated by C. botulinum spores. The spores multiply in the infant's intestine and produce toxins. Infants should not be given raw honey.  (+ info)

Can Sorghum cause botulism in infants like honey?


I was only wondering since it has close to the same taste and texture.
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Honey is the highest risk but in theory any sugar syrup can contain botulism either from during packaging or from being exposed after opening.

http://mayoclinic.com/health/infant-botulism/HQ00854
Botulism spores may also be found in undercooked food, corn syrup and even maple syrup. For this reason, feeding an infant any of these foods is risky as well.  (+ info)

Can my baby contract infant botulism if I eat cereal with Honey while breastfeeding?


No, the acid in your stomach kills the bacteria. You just cannot give the baby honey directly.
http://books.google.com/books?id=Ugt1_4FxmgAC&pg=PA593&lpg=PA593&dq=honey+botulism+stomach+adult&source=web&ots=pr6t_pLRhT&sig=Vd4uprxLLO-InLypU5KY4A2SvyM
http://www.webmd.com/content/article/43/3606_275
"If an adult eats honey containing botulinum spores, protective acid and other mechanisms in the intestine inhibit the spores from growing and producing the toxin. But a young child's digestive system isn't yet protective enough to inhibit the growth of the bacteria and production of the toxin. A pregnant woman can safely eat honey because her digestive tract will keep the botulinum bacteria from growing, and her honey consumption poses no danger to her fetus. "  (+ info)

Is there another example where a bad drug or toxin is used as a cure aside from botulism?


There are countless such examples. Here are a few:

-Digitalis toxin used to treat heart failure.
-Curare (used by natives to make poison darts) used with anesthesia to temporarily paralyze a patient for surgery.
-Belladonna mushroom extract used to treat migraines.
-Cocaine used for nosebleeds and local anesthesia.

Most drugs are toxic at some level and by certain delivery methods. It's how they are used that makes them safe or dangerous. As Paracelsus said 500 years ago, "The dose makes the poison."  (+ info)

Can botulism form in a can of chicken broth, or just canned veggies?


Additionally, what other things can develop in a dented can of chicken broth? Yes, i may have consumed some bad broth...
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it form mainly in canned meat especially that have intestine and not veggies  (+ info)

How is botulism toxin used in a good way?


Botox injections can be done in muscles that are too tight and painful in cerebral palsy, stroke and multiple sclerosis patients. The Botox paralyzes the muscles so they can relax and the patient can be more comfortable.  (+ info)

Could you get botulism from brownies that were tightly sealed in plastic bag over time?


I suppose Salmonella would be more likely, and whatever else???
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Botulinum is anaerobic so there would have to be no air at all or it would have to have gotten deep inside an air-tight brownie to produce toxin. Other types of food pathogens are possible but a mold would most likely to spoil it before anyone could eat it, unless it was purposefully contaminated.

I would suggest not eating them....but if you're trying to poison someone...that's not a great idea either....Why do you ask?  (+ info)

Can you get botulism poisoning from eating eggs that were left out too long?


crazy, above , is correct

clostridium botulinum is an anaerobe - that means it cannot live, and cannot make its toxin, if left in an open - air environment. It would only occur in home-canning or home pickling.

if you cook eggs then leave them out - you might get one or two other infections, but it wouldn't be botulism  (+ info)

An expired can of beans. Does it have botulism?


I have a commercially canned can of black beans that are about ten months over the due date. Are they still good or could they have botulism? Is there any way to tell? I know that if the can bulges at the edges, it has botulism, but is there any other way to tell? Are there any other risks with eating an expired can of beans? Thanks all for helping this broke ass student.
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Assuming the can isn't bulging, dented, rusty, or leaking, you're fine. Canned goods pretty much have an indefinate shelf life, assuming they're stored in dry conditions, under about 75 degrees Farenheit. Food is canned under high heat conditions which basically makes it sterile (which is why you can eat the stuff right out of the can without cooking it first).

The dates on cans these days are typically made on dates, with occasionally a "best if used by" date, and you normally don't find actual expiration dates, since the food doesn't really expire.  (+ info)

What are food sources of Botulism?


Also, what are symtoms, prevention, and timeline for it?
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Botulism is an *anerobic* bacteria, from the genus Clostridium. This means that not only does it not need oxygen to thrive; it also means that oxygen kills it. So you won't find it on things that are and always have been exposed to the air -- e.g., bread, sugar, etc.

Most often, botulism is found in canned goods that are sealed from the air. These can be either home canned goods or commercial products. Botulism bacteria create gas as a byproduct as they grow, so any canned product that is bulging, has a "safety lid" that has popped out, etc. is suspect.

While oxygen will kill botulism bacteria, it's not the bacteria themselves that are so dangerous to humans. It's the toxin they produce. So even if you open a can of soup that's been infected with botulism and expose it to the air, the oxygen will *not* neutralize the toxin -- it will only kill the bacteria and prevent them from adding any more poison.

Botulism toxin is sometimes called "bo-tox" (yes, the same stuff that's sometimes used for cosmetic treatments). When it's used for treatments by a qualified professional, it can have legitimate medical uses. But then again, so can curare and morphine. None of those are things to mess around with.

Even a small amount of botulism toxin can make you very sick. So if you have to come in contact with suspected food, wash your hands thoroughly immediately afterward. But if you've got a can that looks suspicious, it's better to simply throw it away without opening it.

As for the symptoms and timeline, my memory's hazy on that, so I'll defer to someone else.  (+ info)

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