A new Clostridium botulinum outbreak on the USDA's Core Investigation Table may be associated with canned soup. That pathogen is a risk with low acid canned foods such as canned soup or home canned vegetables. There is no more information on the table about this outbreak. We do not know the patient case counts, if traceback or sampling is being conducted, or if any facilities are being inspected. Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic bacteria that produces a neurotoxin that is the most toxic substance known. The toxin is produced by the bacterial spores when the pH of a food is above 4.6 and when oxygen levels are low or nonexistent. The toxin travels through the bloodstream and attacks nerves, causing paralysis from the top of the body down. When the paralysis reaches the lungs, … [Read more...]