Category Archives: Clostridium botulinum

Viet Nam – HCMC botulism patient dies before receiving antitoxin sent from Switzerland

e-vnexpress

The World Health Organization has dispatched rare drug to HCMC to treat patients critically ill with botulism after eating pork bologna and fermented food, but one died shortly after it arrived.

Sent from Switzerland, six vials of botulism antitoxin heptavalent (BAT) arrived on Wednesday to be administered to the three men, aged 18, 26 and 45, the Ministry of Health said.

Two of them are under treatment at Cho Ray Hospital and the other at Gia Dinh Hospital.

But the 45-year-old patient at Gia Dinh died on Wednesday night before he was injected with the drug, the hospital announced Thursday morning.

Produced by Emergent BioSolutions Canada Inc., the drug effectively neutralizes all known botulinum nerve toxin serotypes. Without it, botulism patients could be paralyzed permanently.

Between May 13 and 20 six people in Thu Duc City suffered from botulinum poisoning, five after eating pork bologna sold by street vendors and one due to eating a type of fermented food.

France – Chickpea Oyster Mushroom Tartiloop – Clostridium botulinum

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Others
  • Product brand name Champiloop – Tartiloop
  • Model names or references Chickpea oyster mushroom tartiloop, vegan spread with mushrooms
  • Identification of products
    GTIN Batch Date
    3770025912066 2022299-1 Use-by date 26/10/2024
  • Packaging 140g
  • Marketing start/end date From 01/11/2022 to 18/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Further information weck jar
  • Geographic area of ​​sale agglomeration of Grenoble
  • Distributors38000: the little ravito, montvrac, the good pickaxe, cse synchrotron 38410: manabio

France – CANNED RED BEAN – Clostridium botulinum

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fruits and vegetables
  • Product brand name DESFARGES
  • Model names or references Red beans in DESFARGES jars
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    batch F18-1212 Date of minimum durability 05/05/2025
    BATCH F48-1172 Date of minimum durability 02/12/2024
  • Packaging glass jar 600g, net drained weight 300g
  • Marketing start/end date From 10/01/2022 to 20/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: AIN (01), ISERE (38), RHONE (69)
  • Distributors so bio, biocoop, retail groceries, market

France – CANNED WHITE INGOT BEANS – Clostridium botulinum

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fruits and vegetables
  • Product brand name DESFARGES
  • Model names or references PRESERVED WHITE INGOT BEAN
  • Identification of products
    Batch Date
    F50-1403 Date of minimum durability 12/15/2025
    BATCH F23-1229 Date of minimum durability 07/06/2025
  • Packaging GLASS JAR 600 G, DRAINED NET WEIGHT 300 G
  • Marketing start/end date From 01/07/2022 to 20/04/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Further information WHITE INGO BEANS JAR
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: AIN (01), RHONE (69)
  • Distributors SO BIO, retail groceries, biocoop,

Quebec – Notice not to consume smoked mussels and warning concerning the lack of information necessary for the consumption of certain smoked fish products, prepared and sold by Poissonnerie de la Baie inc. by Bonaventure – Clostridium botulinum

Quebec

The Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPAQ), in collaboration with the company Poissonnerie de la Baie inc., located at 170, avenue de Port- Royal , in Bonaventure, warns the public not to consume the product indicated in the table below, because the retailer mentioned above has not prepared and packaged it in such a way as to ensure its safety. Indeed, this product could promote the proliferation of the bacterium  Clostridium botulinum .

Product name

Format

Affected lot

“ATKINS SMOKED MUSSELS”

Unitary

Units sold until May 12, 2023

In addition, the MAPAQ, in collaboration with the same company, warns the population not to consume the products indicated in the table below beyond 14 days following the date of packaging.

Product name

Format

Affected lot

“SMOKED SALMON BITES IN LERABLE”

Variable

Units sold until May 12, 2023

“ATKINS SMOKED TURBOT FILLET”

Variable

Units sold until May 12, 2023

The products that are the subject of this warning were offered for sale until May 12, 2023 inclusively, and only at the establishment designated above. The smoked fish products were vacuum packed in a transparent plastic bag and the smoked mussels were packed in glass jars with a metal lid. The products were all sold chilled. The label of the products included, in addition to their name, the words “Poissonnerie de la Baie”.

The operator is voluntarily recalling the products in question. It has agreed with MAPAQ to issue this warning as a precautionary measure. 

Smoked mussels  : people who have this product in their possession are advised not to consume it. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected product shows no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, its consumption may represent a health risk.

Maple Smoked Salmon Bites and Smoked Turbot Fillets  : People who have either of these products in their possession are advised not to consume it if it has been packaged for more than 14 days. They must return it to the establishment where they bought it or throw it away. Even if the affected products show no signs of tampering or suspicious odors, their consumption may represent a health risk. In fact, when smoked fish is sold refrigerated, mandatory preventive measuresThis link will open in a new window. must be taken with regard to the type of packaging and the shelf life.

It should be noted that no case of illness associated with the consumption of these foods has been reported to MAPAQ to date.

France – Bottled CHICKPEA – Clostridium botulinum

Gov france

Identification information of the recalled product

  • Product category Feed
  • Product subcategory Fruits and vegetables
  • Product brand name DISCHARGES
  • Model names or references CHICKPEA
  • Identification of products
    Lot Date
    F44-1357 Best before date 02/11/2025
  • Packaging 600g glass jar
  • Marketing start/end date From 22/11/2022 to 23/03/2023
  • Storage temperature Product to be stored at room temperature
  • Further information product from organic farming
  • Geographic area of ​​sale Departments: AIN (01), ISERE (38), RHONE (69)
  • Distributors biocoop villeurbanne and charancieu, so organic Lozanne, so organic Craponne, Marechal fraicheur, the little distrib, Léonie’s grocery store, Father Baptiste, the Miribel farm

Practical information regarding the recall

  • Reason for recall sample unstable after incubation, the sample does not meet the requirements of article 14 of regulation (EC) n°178/2002
  • Risks incurred by the consumer Clostridium botulinum (agent responsible for botulism)

Research – FSA Vacuum Packing/MAP Guidance – more questions asked

CFA

In June 2022 CFA Director General Karin Goodburn MBE gave evidence to the Advisory Committee on the Microbiological Safety of Food (ACMSF) Subgroup conducting the review of the entire risk basis of the FSA Guidelines on the control of non-proteolytic Clostridium botulinum in the vacuum and modified atmosphere packaging of chilled food (CFA News 58) and looking more widely at botulism risks.

The subgroup was not authorised by FSA to review the guidance in relation to fresh meat although industry maintains that it does not reflect internationally-established risk. CFA is seeking correction of technical errors and removal of UK-only technical barriers to businesses. Instead, as is standard for other pathogens, information required for the use of HACCP should be provided by FSA including continuing to allow the use of risk-based data for the use of novel thermal and other processes.

Research – Physical Treatments to Control Clostridium botulinum Hazards in Food

MDPI

Abstract

Clostridium botulinum produces Botulinum neurotoxins (BoNTs), causing a rare but potentially deadly type of food poisoning called foodborne botulism. This review aims to provide information on the bacterium, spores, toxins, and botulisms, and describe the use of physical treatments (e.g., heating, pressure, irradiation, and other emerging technologies) to control this biological hazard in food. As the spores of this bacterium can resist various harsh environmental conditions, such as high temperatures, the thermal inactivation of 12-log of C. botulinum type A spores remains the standard for the commercial sterilization of food products. However, recent advancements in non-thermal physical treatments present an alternative to thermal sterilization with some limitations. Low- (<2 kGy) and medium (3–5 kGy)-dose ionizing irradiations are effective for a log reduction of vegetative cells and spores, respectively; however, very high doses (>10 kGy) are required to inactivate BoNTs. High-pressure processing (HPP), even at 1.5 GPa, does not inactivate the spores and requires heat combination to achieve its goal. Other emerging technologies have also shown some promise against vegetative cells and spores; however, their application to C. botulinum is very limited. Various factors related to bacteria (e.g., vegetative stage, growth conditions, injury status, type of bacteria, etc.) food matrix (e.g., compositions, state, pH, temperature, aw, etc.), and the method (e.g., power, energy, frequency, distance from the source to target, etc.) influence the efficacy of these treatments against C. botulinum. Moreover, the mode of action of different physical technologies is different, which provides an opportunity to combine different physical treatment methods in order to achieve additive and/or synergistic effects. This review is intended to guide the decision-makers, researchers, and educators in using physical treatments to control C. botulinum hazards.

Research – Human and animal botulism surveillance in France from 2008 to 2019

Frontiers in Microbiology

Botulism is a human and animal neurological disease caused by the action of bacterial neurotoxins (botulinum toxins) produced by bacteria from the genus Clostridium. This disease induces flaccid paralysis that can result in respiratory paralysis and heart failure. Due to its serious potential impact on public health, botulism is a closely monitored notifiable disease in France through a case-based passive surveillance system. In humans, this disease is rare, with an average of 10 outbreaks reported each year, mainly due to the consumption of contaminated foods. Type B and to a lesser extend type A are responsible for the majority of cases of foodborne botulism. Each year, an average of 30 outbreaks are recorded on poultry farms, about 20 cases in wild birds and about 10 outbreaks in cattle, involving a large number of animals. Mosaic forms C/D and D/C in birds and cattle, respectively, are the predominant types in animals in France. Types C and D have also been observed to a lesser extent in animals. With the exception of botulinum toxin E, which was exceptionally detected throughout the period in wild birds, the types of botulism found in animal outbreaks are different from those identified in human outbreaks over the last ten years in France and no human botulism outbreaks investigated have been linked to animal botulism. In line with the One Health concept, we present the first integrative approach to the routine surveillance of botulism in humans and animals in France.

Research – Detection of Clostridium botulinum in Some Egyptian Fish Products, Its Control In Vitro Using Citrus Leaves Extracts, and Applicability of Citrus limon Leaf Extract in Tuna

MDPI

kswfoodworld

Abstract

This study aims to detect Clostridium botulinum and its control using natural leaf extracts of Citrus limonCitrus sinensis, and Citrus unshiu in Egyptian fish products, e.g., canned tuna, canned sardine, canned mackerel, fesikh, moloha, and renga, as well the application of C. limon in tuna. Moreover, the antibacterial activity of the C. limon leaf extract was also estimated. In the water extract, ascorbic acid, total flavonoid content (TFC), and total phenolic content (TPC) were determined by volumetric, aluminum chloride, and Folin–Ciocalteu approaches, respectively. The antioxidant ability of the extract was analyzed in vitro via free radical scavenging (DPPH) and Ferric reducing assays. The results showed variability in the distribution of the total number of positive C. botulinum in fish samples from three different governorates under study, which were (24) Alexandria, (16) Beheira, and (17) Gharbia, out of the 120 tested samples in each governorate. Additionally, the findings revealed that all three Citrus extracts contain an appropriate number of secondary metabolites, with a sustainable presence of saponin and tannins in the C. limon extract. Furthermore, all Citrus extracts inhibited bacterial growth by increasing the inhibition zone, with C. limon being the best extract (25 mm) compared to C. sinensis and C. unshiu. The overall results showed the high antioxidant and anti-Clostridium powers (p < 0.05) of C. limon leaf extract, indicating its preservative activity in fishery products during storage. Finally, C. limon leaf extract can fight off C. botulinum and is considered a promising natural preservation candidate in ensuring safe and fresh fishery products.