botulism

     

Botulism (Latin, botulus, "sausage") is a rare, but serious paralytic illness cause by a toxin, botulin, that is produced by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. C. botulinum is an anaerobic, Gram positive, spore-forming rod. Botulinic toxin is one of the most powerful known toxins: about one microgram is lethal to humans. It acts by blocking nerve function and leads to respiratory and musculoskeletal paralysis. There are three main kinds of botulism:

Trivia about botulism

  • From the Latin for "sausage", it's a dangerous type of food poisoning
  • Outbreaks of this form of food poisoning are often the result of improper home canning
  • Oil containing garlic can cause this type of food poisoning unless it's kept refrigerated
  • Beware of bulging or swollen cans of food; it could be a sign of this food poisoning
  • This poisoning usually picked up from bad canned meat takes its name from the Latin word for sausage
  • The name of this severe, sometimes fatal form of food poisoning comes from the Latin for "sausage"
  • Found in improperly sterilized food, the most deadly toxin known causes this type of poisoning
  • If your can of green beans bulges out, it may be contaminated with this food poisoning

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