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Botulism is a rare but extremely serious illness that’s caused by eating foods contaminated with the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. The severe poison can also be contracted though open wounds, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine.
There’s fear of botulism in certain foods including hot dogs and that’s why they’re treated with nitrites and nitrates, but the most common occurrences happen in preserved and canned foods, such as home canned vegetables, cured pork, and smoked or raw fish. It’s common in babies and most of the average 110 U.S. cases are in babies, often from eating improperly handled honey.
The symptoms are serious and mean hospitalization. They include dramatic cramps, trouble breathing, double vision, and weakness with paralysis. In babies, they include weakness in crying, poor feeding, and constipation.
Most recently, eight botulism cases were confirmed in France. According to Bites:
Those stricken with botulism in France has climbed to eight as investigators determined the company that produced the suspect tapenade was never registered and had never undergone inspection.
Five of the confirmed cases were all present at a family dinner and Avignon. The suspicious tapenade was made with green olives and almonds and produced under the name The Delights of Mare Clare. Botulism is one of the rarest albeit potent forms of food poisoning. If you show symptoms, you should contact your doctor immediately.
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