botulism

American  

[boch-uh-liz-uhm] / ˈbɒtʃ əˌlɪz əm /

noun

Pathology.

1. a sometimes fatal disease of the nervous system acquired from spoiled foods in which botulin is present, especially improperly canned or marinated foods.

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botulism British  

/ ˈbɒtjʊˌlɪzəm /

noun

1. severe poisoning from ingestion of botulin, which affects the central nervous system producing difficulty in swallowing, visual disturbances, and respiratory paralysis: often fatal

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botulism Scientific  

/ bŏch′ə-lĭz′əm /

1. A severe, sometimes fatal food poisoning caused by eating food infected with the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which produces botulinum toxin. The bacterium grows in food that has been improperly preserved.

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botulism Cultural  

1. A severe form of food poisoning, often fatal if not treated quickly. Botulism is caused by a kind of bacterium that produces a toxin, and it is sometimes present in improperly canned or preserved foods.

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Etymology

Origin of botulism

1875–80; < German Botulismus, equivalent to Latin botul(us ) sausage (a source of botulin toxin) + -ismus -ism

Example Sentences

Those incidents came after formula maker ByHeart recalled all of its products in the U.S. last fall after they were linked to a multistate botulism outbreak.

From The Wall Street Journal

At least five families say their babies were treated for infant botulism after consuming ByHeart formula months before a current outbreak was detected, California health officials say.

From Los Angeles Times

FDA sent warning letters to four major retailers including Target for failing to remove recalled baby formula linked to botulism outbreak.

From Los Angeles Times

The chain store failed to quickly remove the recalled formula, ByHeart — linked to a nationwide botulism outbreak — from its retail locations in several states including California, the U.S.

From Los Angeles Times

A total of 15 infants with suspected or confirmed cases of botulism have been reported in a dozen states, the FDA said Tuesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

• salmonella