1. CLOSTRIDIUM BOTULINUM Clostridium botulinum is an anaerobic, Gram-positive, spore-forming rod that produces a potent neurotoxin. The spores are heat-resistant and can survive in foods that are incorrectly or minimally processed. Foodborne botulism is a severe type of food poisoning caused by the ingestion of foods containing the potent neurotoxin formed during growth of the organism. The toxin is heat labile and can be destroyed if heated at 80°C for 10 minutes or longer.The disease is of considerable concern because of its high mortality rate if not treated immediately and properly. It can happen with inadequately processed, home- canned foods, in meat products, sausages, canned vegetables and seafood productc. Bacterium of the day: Clostridium botulinum

2. Foods that have been associated with outbreaks of botulism include improperly canned foods (both homemade and commercially canned), flavored oils containing garlic and herbs, smoked and salted fish, and potatoes that have been baked in aluminum foil and then kept (still wrapped in foil) at room temperature for several hours. All of these are low-acid foods that are usually stored at room temperature in the absence of oxygen. Another environment where Clostridium botulinum can grow is on the surface of fresh vegetables wrapped tightly in plastic (which keeps out oxygen). This is why supermarket vegetables are loosely wrapped with plastic packaging that has holes in it to allow the oxygen to pass through. Food poisoning

3. BOTOX®, a registered trade mark of Allergan Inc., and Dysport® (Ipsen's product) are different forms of purified botulinum toxin A, and are produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, the cause of a dangerous disease called botulism. Botulinum toxin is a neuromuscular blocking agent, which means it causes paralysis of the injected muscle by preventing the release of acetylcholine from motor nerve terminals. Without its nerve supply, the muscle fibre withers away. The muscle strengthens again as the nerves regenerate. Botulinum toxin reduces sweating by blocking the sympathetic nerve fibres that control sweat glands. For more information see: ttp://dermnetnz.org/procedures/botox.html Bacterium of the day: Clostridium botulinum