botulism

botulism, paralytic syndrome caused by poisoning by botulinum toxin, a substance produced by Clostridium botulinum bacteria. Botulism results most frequently from the eating of improperly sterilized home-canned foods containing the toxin. Poisoning also may result from wound infection. C. botulinum bacteria—which cannot survive in the presence of oxygen—normally live in the soil, where they form heat-resistant spores that may contaminate fresh food to be canned. The spores survive if the food is not cooked at...