Restaurant-Associated Type a Botulism: Transmission by Potato Salad

Abstract

In the period November 13-18, 1978, seven cases of type A botulism occurred in persons who had eaten in a restaurant in Colorado. The outbreak was recognized when two persons who had independently eaten at the restaurant were hospitalized with an illness compatible with botulism. Surveillance efforts identified five additional cases. Potato salad made at the restaurant and available for service during an 11-day period was epidemiologically incriminated as the vehicle of botulinal toxin transmission (p less than 0.00001). Laboratory studies showed that Clostridium botulinum spores on the surface of potatoes could survive baking in the manner used by the restaurant and that botulinal toxin could be produced in potatoes contaminated with C. botulinum spores.

Botulism: The Present Status of the Disease

“…Washington and Oregon rank third and fourth in outbreaks, respectively, almost exclusively type A. Four large outbreaks occurred in restaurants during this period, due to home-type processed peppers (TERRANOVA et al 1978), potato salad (SEALS et al 1981;MANN et al 1982), and cooked onions (MACDoNALD et al 1985).…”

Botulism from Drinking Pruno

“…C. botulinum is commonly found in the soil, and its spores have been found on raw potatoes (5). Several outbreaks of botulism caused by eating potatoes have occurred in the United States (6)(7)(8), and laboratory studies have shown that C. botulinum spores on the surface of raw potatoes can survive baking and lead to production of botulinum toxin (5). The warm anaerobic fermentation process of making pruno probably predisposes toward production of botulinum toxin, particularly if any ingredient happens to be contaminated with C. botulinum or its spores, such as the potatoes used in these 2 instances.…”

Outbreak of Botulism Due to Illicit Prison-Brewed Alcohol: Public Health Response to a Serious and Recurrent Problem

“…These findings support the epidemiologic evidence that pruno containing a potato was the source of the outbreak. Potatoes have been commonly associated with botulism [24][25][26], and pruno containing a potato is now a well-recognized cause of botulism. Whole potatoes, one of the few nonprocessed foods served at prisons, have been banned at prison A as a result of this outbreak.…”