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# Botulism: The basics
- URL: https://www.foodconsumer.org/botulism_the_basics_0128111124/
- Published: 2011-01-29T12:23:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-09-22T16:03:47.000Z
- Description: A foodsafety.gov factsheet on botulism: sources include honey and home-canned goods for infants, and improperly canned or warm-held foods for others. Incubation runs 3 to 30 days in infants and 12 to 72 hours otherwise. It is a medical emergency; call a doctor at once.
- Author: Food Consumer
- Tags: Biological, Food Safety, Botulism, #vivvo-import

Botulism is a rare but serious illness caused by a bacterium which occurs in soil. It produces a toxin that affects your nerves. Foodborne botulism comes from eating foods contaminated with the toxin.

| **Sources**             | **Infants:** Honey, home-canned vegetables and fruits, corn syrup **Children and adults:** Home-canned foods with a low acid content, improperly canned commercial foods, home-canned or fermented fish, herb-infused oils, baked potatoes in aluminum foil, cheese sauce, bottled garlic, foods held warm for extended periods of time |
| ----------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| **Incubation Period**   | **Infants:** 3-30 days **Children and adults:** 12-72 hours                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| **Symptoms**            | **Infants:** Lethargy, weakness, poor feeding, constipation, poor head control, poor gag and sucking reflex **Children and adults:** Double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth and muscle weakness                                                                              |
| **Duration of Illness** | Variable                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
| **What Do I Do?**       | Botulism is a medical emergency. If you have symptoms of botulism, contact your doctor immediately.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |

Originally published on http://www.foodsafety.gov/poisoning/causes/bacteriaviruses/botulism.html Foodconsumer.org is not affiliated with any government agency.