Two Ohioans hospitalized with botulism

Posted on August 6, 2014 by Ben Chapman

Almost always resulting in some form of paralysis (and then hospitalization), botulism is one of the scariest foodborne illnesses out there. It’s why I’m super careful with the canning I do at home and pay attention to storage of low-acid foods.

Last week a recall alert alluded to 2 cases of botulism in Ohio linked to VR Farms jarred pesto.

According to Fox 19, the victims are in Cincinnati and were both hospitalized.

Two Cincinnati residents have been hospitalized with botulism after a nationwide recall of California sauces.

Steven Englender, director of the Center for Public Health Preparedness in the Cincinnati Health Department, said they have found presumptive laboratory evidence of type B botulism and confirmed two clinical cases of botulism.

Englender said in an email to city spokesman Rocky Merz Monday that the patients, both in their 20s, were improving. One patient was on a ventilator and had been transferred to an acute long-term care facility. The other patient was off assisted breathing. That patient may have since been discharged.

The Cincinnati Health Department says a pesto sauce seems to be the cause in both cases.

Maybe use better tests? Fonterra cuts blamed on botulism scare

Posted on July 23, 2014 by Douglas Powell

After a crappy botulism test sparked falling demand for New Zealand-based Fonterra dairy products, the company is now going to axe about 110 jobs at a Hamilton packing site, a union official says.

The Dairy Workers Union official told Fairfax Media Fonterra was slashing the jobs at Canpac, in Foreman Rd, by about a third after last year’s botulism scare.

The dairy co-operative called a snap meeting of all Canpac staff this morning to tell them it was cutting back the operation to a 24-hour day, five days a week after a drop in sales volume on products packaged there.

It had been a 24 hours, seven days a week operation since expanding in 2007 on the back of the commodities boom.

Dairy Workers Union national secretary Chris Flatt said a Fonterra presentation had admitted food-safety scares played a part in Canpac losing work.

Scientists find a way to block botulism poisoning

Posted on July 21, 2014 by Douglas Powell

Scientists have discovered how bacterial toxins that cause food-borne botulism are absorbed through the intestinal lining and into the bloodstream. The study offers insight into developing new approaches for blocking this poisonous substance.

Botulism is a rare and often fatal paralytic illness due to a neurotoxin produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which can appear in rotted, uncooked foods and in soil. Listed as a Tier 1 agent by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the botulinum toxin is also a potential biological weapon.

Using a crystal structure of a complex protein compound of botulinum neurotoxin, UCI News reports how researchers have found that these compounds – called clostridial hemagglutinin (HA) – bind with epithelial cell proteins in the intestines of patients, initiating a process that disrupts the close intercellular seals, enabling the complex toxin molecules to slip through the epithelial barrier.

By identifying this novel process by which the toxin compound manages to, in a sense, open the door from inside, scientists can better understand how to seek new methods to prevent these deadly toxins from entering the bloodstream.

In further tests the research group designed a mutated version of the botulism compound, based on the novel crystal structure, in which HA would not bind with the epithelial cell protein E-cadherin. Even though this lab-made toxin compound contains the fully active live toxin molecule, it was not orally toxic when tested on mice because the mutated HA cannot break up the intercellular seals and, therefore, the toxin compound cannot be absorbed through the epithelial layer.

The researchers are hopeful that this could lead to the identification of small molecules able to stop HA from binding with epithelial cell proteins, thus preventing the toxin invasion.

The study has been reported to the journal PLOS Pathogens. The study is titled “Structure of a Bimodular Botulinum Neurotoxin Complex Provides Insights into Its Oral Toxicity.”

Australian infant stricken with botulism digging deep to save other mums from heartache

Posted on July 1, 2014 by Douglas Powell

Lucas Whitelegg was stricken with botulism at nine-weeks-old and left him paralyzed for 241 days.

The Mildura, Australia, youngster spent 10 months in intensive care at Monash Children’s Hospital after ingesting spores of Clostridium botulinum bacterium, found in dust and honey.

Ms Bailey was based in Melbourne alone and did not leave Lucas’s side, spending most of the year away from her support network and husband who could not afford to give up his job in Mildura.

During this time Andrew travelled 30,000km, commuting between Mildura and Melbourne. Eventually Lucas’s movement returned, and for the first time last month, at 17 months old, he began to crawl.

“We waited so long for these milestones so when you finally see them, they blow you away with excitement and happiness,’’ his mother Bree Bailey said. “To know what he’s come from to where he is now is incredible.’’

Fine food: Salmon recalled because of potential botulism in Canada

Posted on June 20, 2014 by Douglas Powell

Farquhar’s Orchards Fine Foods is recalling Farquhar’s Orchards Fine Foods brand salmon products from the marketplace because they may permit the growth of Clostridium botulinum. Consumers should not consume the recalled products described below.

The following products have been sold in Ontario.

Brand Name: Farquhar’s Orchards Fine Foods

Common Name: House Candied Salmon

Size: Variable weight

Code(s) on Product: All PACKED ON dates

UPC: Starts with 0 204109

Reason for Recall: Microbiological – Clostridium botulinum

Brand Name: Farquhar’s Orchards Fine Foods

Common Name: House Smoked Salmon

Size: Variable weight

Code(s) on Product: All PACKED ON dates

UPC: Starts with 0 204108

Reason for Recall: Microbiological – Clostridium botulinum

What You Should Do

Check to see if you have recalled products in your home. Recalled products should be thrown out or returned to the store where they were purchased.

Food contaminated with Clostridium botulinum toxin may not look or smell spoiled but can still make you sick. Symptoms can include nausea, vomiting, fatigue, dizziness, blurred or double vision, dry mouth, respiratory failure and paralysis. In severe cases of illness, people may die.

Background

This recall was triggered by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s (CFIA) inspection activities. The CFIA is conducting a food safety investigation, which may lead to the recall of other products. If other high-risk products are recalled the CFIA will notify the public through updated Food Recall Warnings.

The CFIA is verifying that industry is removing recalled product from the marketplace.

There have been no reported illnesses associated with the consumption of these products.

Fonterra fined $150,000 for keeping quiet on botulism

Posted on June 13, 2014 by Douglas Powell

Fonterra has been fined $150,000d by The New Zealand Markets Disciplinary Tribunal for breaching continuous disclosure requirements to the NZX during the dairy manufacturer and exporter’s botulism false alarm last August.

Auckland-based Fonterra undertook a world wide recall after it quarantined several batches of whey protein concentrate last August on concern it was contaminated with a potentially dangerous strain of Clostridium bacteria, capable of causing botulism. The strain was ultimately shown to be harmless.

The dairy company first knew of the potential contamination on Wednesday July 31 but did not make the information public or inform the market until just after midnight on Friday August 2. Options in New Zealand’s largest company trade on the Fonterra Shareholders’ Market and allow dairy farmers to trade shares between themselves in a private market, while units in the Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund give ordinary investors access to the dividend stream.

Fonterra Shareholders’ Fund units closed at $7.12 on Friday August 2, before the company announced the contamination. When the market reopened on Monday August 5 the units traded at an intraday low of $6.50 and closed at $6.86, the tribunal said. A similar reaction was observed on the private dairy farmers’ share trading market.

Infant with botulism identified in Israel; treated with antitoxin

Posted on May 28, 2014 by Ben Chapman

Botulism is scary. In adults, consuming small amount of toxin (as little as a couple of nanograms) can cause paralysis; victims often end up on a ventilator for months. Intoxication is fatal in 5-10% of cases (depending on the type).

In infants, the risk comes from ingesting C. botulinum spores (most often associated with honey). Household dust has also also been identified as a potential source in at least one case.

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Regardless of the source, the consequences can be catastrophic. Illness severity is linked to how quickly the right treatment is administered — identification of the symptoms takes an on-the-ball physician who knows a bit about food safety.

According to Algemeiner.com, an Israeli doctor’s access to antitoxin may have saved an infant’s life.

A 7-month-old child is in serious condition in an Israeli hospital after ingesting spores of a rare and deadly disease just days earlier.

“During our checkup, we concluded that he was suffering from botulism,” Dr. Eli Shapiro, Pediatric Intensive Care Unit chief at Rehovot’s Kaplan Hospital, told Army Radio on Wednesday.

Kaplan, like all Israeli medical facilities, keeps ample supplies of biological and chemical warfare antidotes on hand in case of war or terrorist attacks, and regularly drills staffers in dealing with the symptoms of various chemical, neural and blister agents.

The quick-thinking mother immediately brought the child to the hospital when she saw he was suffering from vomiting, difficulty in breathing, listlessness and an inability to nurse or eat, hospital officials said.

“The infant is still in a life-threatening situation, however, the muscular paralysis has been checked and there’s been a small degree of improvement in his muscular weakness,” Shapiro said.

Shapiro said it was, as yet, unclear as to the source of the poisoning, however, Health Ministry officials have been alerted and are investigating the circumstances.

Mississippi man still recovering from 2011 botulism illness

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Ben Chapman

Mrs. Kalisz, my middle school family studies teacher, scared the crap out of me by telling stories about paralysis and warned of the dangers of botulism by holding up a bulging can of beans. All the food safety and home food preservation stuff I’ve done since then has confirmed that botulism is a nasty affliction.

Of the 20-30 cases of botulism in the U.S. every year, the majority are linked to improper home canning. Deviating from the prescribed steps can create the perfect environment for Clostridium botulinum spore outgrowth, germination and toxin production.

According to WMCTV in Memphis, Jay Killen a Horn Lake, Mississippi man has been slowly recovering from botulism for two years. The story reports that Killen consumed the toxin after eating canned beets (although it’s not clear what the source was or if this was confirmed by public health officials).

“One thing he ate changed our entire lives,” said Amanda Killen.

Jay Killen struggles to even eat a spoonful of chocolate pudding, after more than two years in and out of the hospital.

“This is the first I’ve been able to feed myself,” said Jay.

Around Thanksgiving, in 2011, Jay got sick. “I thought I was having a stroke or something,” he explained. So did doctors in the emergency room.

He was unable to move or even breathe; Jay was hooked up to a ventilator and placed in intensive care. By day six, doctors prepared to declare the 40-something former construction worker brain dead.

It may have been a can of beets we had,” said Amanda. “You get to the point where it really doesn’t matter where it came from because it’s not going to change anything,” Amanda explained.

After months tending to her husband, Amanda returned to work, in part, to preserve their health insurance. Jay was unable to even push a nurse call button, so volunteers signed up for weekly two and three hours shifts.

Jay couldn’t speak but regained his ability to blink. Blinking became his means of communication as visitors recited the alphabet.

“I would say at ‘A,’ and I’d say the alphabet, and he’d stop me on the letter I’d write down. And then we’d go to the next letter,” said Amanda.

An interesting side effect from Jay’s illness is that he has fewer wrinkles. Botulism comes from the same toxin used in Botox cosmetic procedures (sort of a weird way to end the story -ben).

In 2012 three folks in Oregon became ill after eating under-processed beets.

Who hacks about botulism? Hackers blamed for UK pre-school botulism scare

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Douglas Powell

A Hampshire nursery school says hackers were behind reports a potentially fatal infection had caused it to close today.

The County Council had put out a statement saying Kings Worthy Pre-School on Church Lane, Kings Worthy, near Winchester, was closed today after a severe case of botulism was found.

The illness attacks the nervous system and can cause paralysis and even death.

But the school says it is open as normal and no illness has been reported. It says it’s IT system was hacked last night (Tuesday 29 April).

Hampshire County Council is investigating.

The consequences of unsafe home canning are scary

Posted on April 5, 2014 by Ben Chapman

With the first ramps making their way to New York restaurants, the North Carolina spring is here.

As the top two-thirds of North America thaws out, the bottom third is gearing up for the home canning season. If done incorrectly (without acid or pressure as a control step) things can get scary.

According to ASIA-plus, 33 residents of a Tajikistan village have contracted botulism from a risky batch of home canned tomatoes, tragically leading to a 10-year-old’s death.

The boy was one of 33 residents of the Qahramon village in Sughd’s Asht district who have contracted botulism poisoning by eating home-canned tomatoes. According to the Sughd Center for Sanitary and Epidemiological Supervision, four of them were in the intensive care unit.

“On March 21, some 95 residents of the village of Qahramon gathered to celebrate the Navrouz holiday and 33 of them contracted botulism poisoning by eating home-canned tomatoes,” said the source. “On March 23, they were taken to the Asht central district hospital, where they were vaccinated (I think they mean treated with antitoxin -ben) against botulism.”

It’s unclear from the report whether the product was just straight tomatoes or had other low acid foods (like peppers or onions added). Modern varieties of tomatoes are lower acid than some of their predecessors – making them a borderline low-acid food. Canned tomatoes require some added acid (lemon juice or vinegar are most common) to keep the Clostridium botulinum spores from germination, outgrowth which can then lead to bot toxin formation.

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