Botulism (“BOT-choo-liz-um”) is a rare but serious illness caused by a toxin that attacks the body's nerves and causes difficulty breathing, muscle paralysis, and even death.
What are the 3 most common causes of botulism?
Botulism is a rare but serious condition caused by toxins from bacteria called Clostridium botulinum.Foodborne botulism. ... Wound botulism. ... Infant botulism.
What are the 3 types of botulism?
Botulism is a serious illness caused by a nerve toxin made by the bacterium, Clostridium botulinum (C. botulinum). A toxin is a poison that is released by some bacteria. There are three types of botulism: food, wound and infant botulism.
Under what conditions does botulism grow?
Conditions that favor botulism include a high-moisture, low-salt, low-acid environment in which food is stored without oxygen or refrigeration. Anaerobic conditions can develop in canned foods, smoked fish, sausages and some cooked foods.
What is the main cause of botulism?
Protect Yourself from Botulism Foodborne botulism is often caused by eating home-canned foods that have not been canned properly. Commercially canned foods are much less likely to be a source of botulism because modern commercial canning processes kill C. botulinum spores.
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