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1 December 2003

Volume 37, Number 11
Clinical Infectious Diseases 2003;37:1490–1495
1058-4838/2003/3711-0010$15.00
DOI: 10.1086/379326
MAJOR ARTICLE

An Outbreak of Foodborne Botulism Associated with Food Sold at a Salvage Store in Texas

Pavani Kalluri,1,2

Colleen Crowe,2

Megan Reller,2

Linda Gaul,3

James Hayslett,1,3

Suzanne Barth,3

Stacey Eliasberg,4

J. Ferreira,4

Kristin Holt,5

Steve Bengston,5

Kate Hendricks,3 and

Jeremy Sobel2

1Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, and 2Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; 3Texas Department of Health, Austin; 4Office of Regulatory Affairs, US Food and Drug Administration, Rockville, Maryland; and 5Food Safety and Inspection Service, US Department of Agriculture, Washington, DC

Foodborne botulism is caused by potent neurotoxins of Clostridium botulinum. We investigated a large outbreak of foodborne botulism among church supper attendees in Texas. We conducted a cohort study of attendees and investigated the salvage store that sold the implicated foods. We identified 15 cases of botulism (40%) among 38 church supper attendees. Nine patients (60%) had botulinum toxin type A detected in stool specimens. The diagnosis was delayed in 3 cases. Fifteen (63%) of 24 attendees who ate a chili dish developed botulism (relative risk, undefined; ). The chili dish was prepared with “brand X” or “brand Y” frozen chili, “brand Z” canned chili, and hot dogs. An unopened container of brand X chili yielded type A toxin. Brand X chili was purchased at a salvage store where perishable foods were inadequately refrigerated. Our investigation highlights the need to improve clinicians' awareness of botulism. More rigorous and more unannounced inspections may be necessary to detect food mishandling at salvage stores.

Received 22 May 2003; accepted 6 August 2003; electronically published 17 October 2003.

Reprints or correspondence: Dr. Pavani Kalluri, Foodborne and Diarrheal Diseases Branch, National Center for Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, MS A-38, 1600 Clifton Rd., Atlanta, GA 30030 ().

Cited by

M.W. Peck. (2006) Clostridium botulinum and the safety of minimally heated, chilled foods: an emerging issue?. Journal of Applied Microbiology 101:3, 556-570
Online publication date: 1-Oct-2006.
CrossRef
Jeremy Sobel. (2005) Botulism. Clinical Infectious Diseases 41:8, 1167-1173
Online publication date: 15-Oct-2005.
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