botulism

13 Stories

This Lake Just Saw Its Worst Botulism Outbreak

More than 94K birds have died at Tule Lake, with outbreak tied to climate change, per officials

(Newser) - California's Tule Lake has seen its fair share of disasters in recent years. In 2020, a botulism outbreak at the national wildlife refuge killed an estimated 60,000 birds. The following year, birds vanished as the lake, which has existed for hundreds of thousands of years, dried up for...

One Dead in Botulism Outbreak Linked to Sardines

A dozen people affected in incident at wine bar in France's Bordeaux region

(Newser) - Matt Jackson was riding an electric bike through France's Bordeaux wine country when he started feeling strange. Nine days later, he's on a breathing machine in a French intensive care unit, unable to open his eyes, communicating only via notes on a whiteboard—and infected with botulism. Jackson...

Flesh-Eating Bacteria Kills 7 in San Diego. This Is to Blame

Bacteria is linked to the injection of black tar heroin

(Newser) - Seven people in San Diego County have been killed by a flesh-eating bacteria since the beginning of October, and health officials say the outbreak is linked to the use of black tar heroin. Black tar heroin is "sticky like roofing tar or hard like coal," with a dark...

Taco Bell Cheese Dip, Goldfish Crackers Recalled

Over botulism fears and salmonella fears, respectively

(Newser) - If you've got Taco Bell "Salsa Con Queso" mild cheese dip in your house, you might have to toss it. Kraft Heinz has issued a voluntary recall for about 7,000 cases of the dip due to signs of product separation that could allow for the growth of...

Recall Makes Death Wish Coffee's Name a Bit Awkward

Nitro Cold Brew recalled over botulism fears

(Newser) - Makes you wonder if the executives at Death Wish Coffee regret their business name choice, even just a little bit: The coffee company is recalling its Nitro Cold Brew over risks it could contain the deadly botulin toxin. "After several rounds of testing, a process specialist has recommended that...

Weeks After Baby Rushed to ER, a Diagnosis: Botulism

Arizona's Cole Hansberger started showing symptoms the day before his first birthday

(Newser) - A 1-year-old in Arizona is critically ill after doctors say he tested positive for botulism, the Arizona Republic reports. On Aug. 5, the day before Cole Hansberger's first birthday, his mom, Jackie, noticed a few strange things: first, his drooping head while he was crawling around, then a complete...

Dad of 2 Dies of Botulism Tied to Nacho Cheese

Toxin found in cheese served at California gas station

(Newser) - The same nacho cheese that left a woman paralyzed has now resulted in a man's death. Health officials in California say one of 10 people hospitalized after eating nacho cheese containing the botulinum toxin at Valley Oak Food and Fuel in Walnut Grove has died, per NPR . Family members...

Mom Paralyzed After Eating Gas Station Nacho Cheese

She's one of 9 cases in California outbreak

(Newser) - Lavinia Kelly went from being a busy, happy mother of three to a partially paralyzed hospital patient after putting nacho cheese on her Doritos at a gas station, family members say. The Sacramento resident, who turned 33 on Wednesday, is one of at least five confirmed cases of botulism involving...

Death From Botulism Tied to Ohio Church Potluck

One person is dead, at least 18 sickened after Lancaster gathering

(Newser) - On average, there are about 145 cases of botulism reported in the US each year—and almost two dozen of this year's have now apparently come out of Lancaster, Ohio, after what looks to be a church potluck gone wrong, the Columbus Dispatch reports. One person died and at...

Deadliest Known Toxin Found—but No Antidote
 Deadliest Known Toxin 
 Found—but No Antidote 
in case you missed it
Oct 19, 2013 7:28 AM CDT

Deadliest Known Toxin Found—but No Antidote

Scientists withholding DNA sequence for now

(Newser) - It sounds like a sci-fi thriller plot, except this is very much fact instead of fiction: Scientists in California have found a new strain of botulinum toxin—the deadliest toxin known to man—but they still haven't come up with an antidote, reports New Scientist . As a result, they'...

Dairy Giant Warns of Botulism Threat

New Zealand's Fonterra says 7 countries affected; so far, US is in clear

(Newser) - New Zealand authorities have triggered a global recall of up to 1,000 tons of dairy products across seven countries after dairy giant Fonterra announced tests had turned up a type of bacteria that could cause botulism. The tainted products include infant formula, sports drinks, protein drinks, and other beverages....

FDA Slaps Strictest Warning Label on Botox

(Newser) - Botox will now carry the Food and Drug Administration’s strictest warning for pharmaceuticals after the agency raised concerns over the risk of botulism last year, Bloomberg reports. The approval of a rival botulinum toxin for cosmetic purposes prompted the review. The toxin can cause muscle weakness and breathing difficulty,...

Hot Dog Chili Sauce Recalled in Botulism Scare

Four hospitalized in Texas & Indiana

(Newser) - Federal officials have ordered a recall of certain brands of hot dog chili sauce after they were linked to four cases of botulism in Texas and Indiana. It's not clear how widely the brands were distributed, but the recall includes 10-ounce cans of Castleberry's, Austex and Kroger hot dog chili...

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