Some 110 cases of botulism occur in the United States each year, according to the National Institutes of Health. When an individual eats food contaminated by Clostridium botulinum, the bacteria produces a nerve toxin in the body that may cause paralysis and death if not treated, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Preventing botulism contamination involves preparing and preserving food safely. Consumers should inspect food before eating it for signs of possible contamination.
Step 1
Feel the temperature of the food if it is one that requires heating or refrigeration. Avoid a baked potato wrapped in foil, for example, if it has cooled.
Step 2
Determine the source of the food, if possible. High risk foods include home-canned, low acid items, such as meat, corn, beets, tomatoes and green beans, and fermented seafood, such as that served in Alaska, according to the Mayo Clinic. However, commercially prepared chili peppers, baked potatoes and garlic in oil have been linked to botulism, as well.
Step 3
Inspect canned or jarred foods for irregularities in the container before opening, the Mayo Clinic suggests. People should discard a can with bulging ends or seams or one that is leaking. If a glass jar's lid bulges or leaks, do not eat the food. Be aware that honey, often linked to infant botulism, will show no signs of contamination, so never give it to children under age 1.
Step 4
Notice when you open the container if air rushes in or out. If air rushes out, the food may be spoiled or contaminated.
Step 5
Smell the food to determine if has a spoiled odor. Some strains of C. botulinum do not cause the food to smell bad, however, so an OK smell test does not mean that the food is safe.
Step 6
Observe the texture and color of the food. Liquids should be clear and the broth over canned meat or chicken should be gelled, the Oregon State University Extension says.
Tips and Warnings
- If a low acid food shows no signs of contamination, but canning was not conducted properly, boil it for 10 minutes if you are at an altitude below 1,000 feet, the Oregon State University Extension says. At higher elevations, add one minute of boiling time for each additional 1,000 feet of elevation. Microwaving the food for the same period of time will render it safe.
- Never discard contaminated low acid foods such as fish, meat, poultry or vegetables in the garbage without heating them first because they may contain toxins that could poison pets or humans. Boil the opened container in water for 30 minutes, and then cool and discard the contents. However, you may discard contaminated high acid foods, such as fruit, in the garbage disposal or garbage can, the Oregon State University Extension says.
