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. 2013 Feb;56(3):376-82.
doi: 10.1093/cid/cis901. Epub 2012 Oct 24.

National outbreak of type a foodborne botulism associated with a widely distributed commercially canned hot dog chili sauce

Patricia C Juliao  1 , Susan Maslanka, Janet Dykes, Linda Gaul, Satish Bagdure, Lynae Granzow-Kibiger, Ellen Salehi, Donald Zink, Robert P Neligan, Casey Barton-Behravesh, Carolina Lúquez, Matthew Biggerstaff, Michael Lynch, Christine Olson, Ian Williams, Ezra J Barzilay
Affiliations

National outbreak of type a foodborne botulism associated with a widely distributed commercially canned hot dog chili sauce

Patricia C Juliao et al. Clin Infect Dis. 2013 Feb.

Abstract

Background: On 7 and 11 July 2007, health officials in Texas and Indiana, respectively, reported 4 possible cases of type A foodborne botulism to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Foodborne botulism is a rare and sometimes fatal illness caused by consuming foods containing botulinum neurotoxin.

Methods: Investigators reviewed patients' medical charts and food histories. Clinical specimens and food samples were tested for botulinum toxin and neurotoxin-producing Clostridium species. Investigators conducted inspections of the cannery that produced the implicated product.

Results: Eight confirmed outbreak associated cases were identified from Indiana (n = 2), Texas (n = 3), and Ohio (n = 3). Botulinum toxin type A was identified in leftover chili sauce consumed by the Indiana patients and 1 of the Ohio patients. Cannery inspectors found violations of federal canned-food regulations that could have led to survival of Clostridium botulinum spores during sterilization. The company recalled 39 million cans of chili. Following the outbreak, the US Food and Drug Administration inspected other canneries with similar canning systems and issued warnings to the industry about the danger of C. botulinum and the importance of compliance with canned food manufacturing regulations.

Conclusions: Commercially produced hot dog chili sauce caused these cases of type A botulism. This is the first US foodborne botulism outbreak involving a commercial cannery in >30 years. Sharing of epidemiologic and laboratory findings allowed for the rapid identification of implicated food items and swift removal of potentially deadly products from the market by US food regulatory authorities.

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Conflict of interest statement

Potential conflicts of interest. All authors: No reported conflicts.

All authors have submitted the ICMJE Form for Disclosure of Potential Conflicts of Interest. Conflicts that the editors consider relevant to the content of the manuscript have been disclosed.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Timeline of events and dates of reported suspect foodborne botulism cases, 1 January–1 September 2007. Abbreviations: BoNT, botulinum neurotoxin; CDC, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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