Guest guest Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 American Carrot Juice Paralyzes Two In Canada Article 10 Oct 2006 - 10:00am (PDT) A man and a woman in Toronto, Canada, have become paralyzed after drinking carrot juice imported from California, USA, say public health officials in Toronto. The patients were poisoned with the botulism toxin. A medical officer says the two patients are seriously ill. Doctors hope they will eventually make a full recovery. The tainted carrot juice comes from Bolthouse Farms, California. What is botulism? A serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin which is produced by Clostridium botulinum (a bacterium). It is a rare illness. There are three types of botulism: -- Foodborne botulism - found in contaminated foods -- Wound botulism - caused by a toxin produced from a wound that is infected with Clostridium botulinum -- Infant botulism - the spores of the botulinum bacteria are consumed, they grow in the intestines and release the toxin If left untreated the arms, legs, trunk and respiratory muscles can become paralyzed. Botulism can be fatal. Symptoms include: -- blurred vision -- difficulty swallowing -- double vision -- drooping eyelids -- dry mouth -- muscle weakness -- slurred speech After eating contaminated food, symptoms usually appear within 18-36 hours. However, they can appear within 6 hours or after 10 days. 50 years ago about 50% of patients with botulism died, today the figure stands at about 8% (CDC). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted October 11, 2006 Report Share Posted October 11, 2006 fun little spat of food poisoning the last two weeks.............. spinach, then lettuce, then carrots... >heartwerk <jo.heartwork >Oct 10, 2006 11:51 PM > > Californian Carrots > >American Carrot Juice Paralyzes Two In Canada >Article 10 Oct 2006 - 10:00am (PDT) > >A man and a woman in Toronto, Canada, have become paralyzed after >drinking carrot juice imported from California, USA, say public >health officials in Toronto. The patients were poisoned with the >botulism toxin. > >A medical officer says the two patients are seriously ill. Doctors >hope they will eventually make a full recovery. > >The tainted carrot juice comes from Bolthouse Farms, California. > >What is botulism? > >A serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin which is produced >by Clostridium botulinum (a bacterium). It is a rare illness. There >are three types of botulism: > >-- Foodborne botulism - found in contaminated foods > >-- Wound botulism - caused by a toxin produced from a wound that is >infected with Clostridium botulinum > >-- Infant botulism - the spores of the botulinum bacteria are >consumed, they grow in the intestines and release the toxin > >If left untreated the arms, legs, trunk and respiratory muscles can >become paralyzed. Botulism can be fatal. > >Symptoms include: > >-- blurred vision >-- difficulty swallowing >-- double vision >-- drooping eyelids >-- dry mouth >-- muscle weakness >-- slurred speech > >After eating contaminated food, symptoms usually appear within 18-36 >hours. However, they can appear within 6 hours or after 10 days. 50 >years ago about 50% of patients with botulism died, today the figure >stands at about 8% (CDC). > > > > > > >To send an email to - > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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