An outbreak of foodborne botulism associated with contaminated hazelnut yoghurt

• DOI: 10.1017/s0950268800047403
• Publication Date: 2009-05-15T09:21:47Z
• Authors: M. O'Mahony; E. Mitchell; R. J. Gilbert; D. N. Hutchinson; N. T. Begg; J. C. Rodhouse; J. E. Morris
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Botulinum Toxins; Adolescent; Infant; Botulism; Food Contamination; 04 agricultural and veterinary sciences; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; Middle Aged; Yogurt; United Kingdom; Disease Outbreaks; 3. Good health; 03 medical and health sciences; 0404 agricultural biotechnology; 0302 clinical medicine; Child, Preschool; Food Microbiology; Humans; Nuts; Female; Dairy Products; Child; Aged

SUMMARYThe largest recorded outbreak of foodborne botulism in the United Kingdom occurred in June 1989. A total of 27 patients was affected; one patient died. Twenty-five of the patients had eaten one brand of hazelnut yoghurt in the week before the onset of symptoms. This yoghurt contained hazelnut conserve sweetened with aspartame rather than sugar.Clostridium botulinumtype B toxin was detected in a blown can of hazelnut conserve, opened and unopened cartons of hazelnut yoghurt, and one faecal specimen.Cl. botulinumtype B was subsequently cultured from both opened and unopened cartons of the hazelnut yoghurt and from one faecal specimen. Investigations indicated that the processing of the conserve was inadequate to destroyCl. botulinumspores. Control measures included the cessation of all yoghurt production by the implicated producer, the withdrawal of the firm's yoghurts from sale, the recall of cans of the hazelnut conserve, and advice to the general public to avoid the consumption of all hazelnut yoghurts.