Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium botulinum
Photomicrographic view of a gentian violet-stained culture specimen revealing the presence of numerous Gram-positive Clostridium botulinum, formerly known as Bacillus botulinus, bacteria and bacterial endospores.
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FS104

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How to Cite

Schneider, Keith R., Rachael Silverberg, Alexandra Chang, and Renée M. Goodrich-Schneider. 2014. “Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium Botulinum: FSHN0406 FS104, Rev. 12 2014”. EDIS 2014 (10). Gainesville, FL. https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fs104-2014.

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum is ubiquitous in nature, often found in soil and water. The bacteria and spores alone do not cause disease, but they produce the botulinum toxin that causes botulism, a serious paralytic condition that can lead to death. Although it is one of the least common of the foodborne diseases, anyone is susceptible even with the ingestion of only a small amount of toxin present in contaminated food. Immunocompromised individuals, young children, and elderly individuals may suffer from more serious symptoms. This revised 6-page fact sheet was written by Keith R. Schneider, Rachael Silverberg, Alexandra Chang, and Renée Goodrich Schneider, and published by the UF Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, December 2014.

FSHN0406/FS104: Preventing Foodborne Illness: Clostridium botulinum (ufl.edu)

https://doi.org/10.32473/edis-fs104-2014
view on EDIS
PDF-2014

References

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Food and Drug Administration (FDA). 2012. Bad Bug Book: Foodborne Pathogenic Microorganisms and Natural Toxins, second edition. p. 108.

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Wong, D. M., K. E. Young-Perkins, and R. L. Merson. 1988. "Factors influencing Clostridium botulinum spore germination, outgrowth, and toxin formation in acidified media." Applied and Environmental Microbiology 54(6):1446-1450. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.54.6.1446-1450.1988

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