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: Botulism; Clostridium botulinum; Food contaminant; Carton; Food poisoning

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