Botulism Prevention

Purpose

  • Many cases of botulism are preventable.
  • Read on for tips and resources to help keep yourself and your loved ones healthy.
  • Be sure to click on the links for more information.
Canned vegetables, including carrots, tomatoes, corn, and green beans.

Foodborne botulism

Many foods have been linked to botulism.

Common sources of botulism are homemade foods that have been improperly canned, preserved, or fermented. Though uncommon, store-bought foods also can be contaminated with botulinum toxin.

In Alaska, most cases of foodborne botulism have been caused by fermented fish and other aquatic animals.

New sources of botulism have been found. They include chopped garlic in oil, canned cheese sauce (such as nacho cheese), carrot juice, baked potatoes wrapped in foil. Other sources include improperly stored store-bought products.

Foodborne botulism is preventable.

Following these steps can help protect you and the people you feed from foodborne botulism.

  • When canning food, carefully follow safe home-canning instructions.
    • Pay special attention to low-acid foods. They're commonly linked to botulism illness and outbreaks.
    • Low acid-foods include all fresh vegetables, figs, meats, poultry, fish, seafood, and some tomatoes.
    • Pressure canning is the only recommended method for canning low-acid foods.
  • Store canned food properly.
  • Use traditional methods to prepare Alaska Native foods.
  • Boil some foods for 10 minutes before eating them.*
    • Home-canned tomatoes
    • Foods containing home-canned tomatoes
    • All low-acid home-canned foods
    • All home-fermented Alaska Native foods.
  • Refrigerate any canned or pickled foods after opening the jar.
  • Refrigerate homemade oils made with garlic or herbs. Throw away them away after 4 days.
  • For potatoes that were baked in foil
    • Keep them at 140°F or hotter until they're served or
    • Refrigerate them at 40°F or colder with the foil loosed so they get air.
  • Do not drink pruno, which is a type of homemade alcohol that some people make in jails and prisons.

If in doubt, throw it out!

  • Do not eat food if you do not know whether it was safely canned, preserved, or fermented.
  • Do not eat home-canned or store-bought food if the food or its container has signs of contamination.

Keep in mind‎

You cannot see, smell, or taste the toxin that causes botulism. But taking even a small taste of food containing the toxin can be deadly.

* Add 1 minute for each additional 1,000 feet of elevation.

Wound botulism

Some people are more likely to get wound botulism.

People who inject illicit drugs, such as black tar heroin, are more likely to get wound botulism than people who do not inject drugs.

People who have had a traumatic injury, such as a motorcycle crash, or have had surgery also have an increased risk for wound botulism.

Take steps to prevent wound botulism.

  • Keep wounds clean.
  • If a wound looks infected, get medical care quickly.
    • A wound might be infected if it is red, swollen, painful, warm to the touch, or full of pus or other drainage, or you have a fever.
    • Keep in mind that you can have wound botulism even if your wound doesn't look infected.

Keep in mind‎

You can prevent wound botulism by not injecting illicit drugs.
Learn what to watch for and ways to stay safe.

Infant botulism

The bacteria that cause botulism can be found in soil and dust. They also can be found inside homes – on floors, carpets, countertops, and other places – even after cleaning.

Infant botulism can happen if the spores of the bacteria get into an infant's intestines. The spores grow and produce the toxin that causes illness.

Sadly, most infant botulism cannot be prevented.

We do know that honey is not safe for infants. Honey can contain the bacteria that cause botulism.

  • Do not feed honey to a child who is younger than 1 year old.

Health Alert‎

Several babies in Texas became ill with infant botulism after using honey pacifiers. Do not give honey or products made with it, including honey pacifiers, to infants. Find out more.

Iatrogenic botulism

Iatrogenic botulism can happen if too much botulinum toxin is injected for cosmetic reasons, such as for wrinkles. It also can happen if too much of the toxin is injected for medical reasons, such as for migraine headaches.

What you should do

  • Ask your provider if they are licensed and trained to give the injection.
    • Your state might have a look-up tool to check licenses for providers and, if required, settings (such as a spa or clinic).
  • Ask if the botulinum toxin product is approved by FDA and obtained from a reliable source.
  • If in doubt, don't get the injection.

Adult intestinal colonization

Adult intestinal colonization (also called adult intestinal toxemia) is a very rare type of botulism. People who have health conditions that affect their intestines (gut) might be at higher risk.

Only a handful of people have been diagnosed with adult intestinal toxemia. Scientists do not fully understand how a person gets this type of botulism. It may be similar to infant botulism, which cannot be prevented.

Resources

A proper canning pressure cooker next to several jars of homemade canned foods.

Home-Canned Foods

Education on steps to prevent botulism linked to home-canned vegetables, fruits, and meats.

USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning

National Center for Home Food Preservation

Alaska Native Foods

Describes ways to prevent botulism linked to Alaskan Native foods.

Pruno and Botulism

This page educates the public about the dangers of consuming pruno as it relates to botulism. 
Hypodermic needles

Injection Drug Use and Wound Botulism

This page educates the public about how injecting illicit drugs can lead to wound botulism.

Infant Botulism Treatment and Prevention Program

Print
Content Source:
National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases (NCEZID)