The cases of botulism occur all over the world every year. Once the individual consumes food that has been tainted by Clostridium botulinum, it produces the nerve toxin within the body which can lead to paralysis and even death if not treated right away. Botulism contamination can be prevented during proper preparation as well as preserving of food safely. When buying food, it is important to inspect the food carefully before eating for any signs of possible infection. By enrolling in a first aid course today, you can learn how to provide relief to the symptoms of food poisoning.
Steps in determining if food is contaminated
- Initially, you have to feel the temperature of the food if it requires refrigeration or heating. The individual should avoid eating a baked potato that is wrapped in foil if it has already cooled.
- Determine the source of the food if possible. Potential high risk foods include low acid foods such as tomatoes, meat, corn, beets and green beets as well as home-canned foods and fermented seafood. Additionally, commercially prepared chili peppers, garlic in oil and baked potatoes are also connected to botulism as well.
- You have to carefully inspect canned or jarred foods for irregularities in the container prior to opening. It is important to discard any can that has bulging ends or seams or one that is leaking. In case the lid of a glass jar leaks or bulges, the food inside must be discarded. Always bear in mind that honey which is often linked to infant botulism will not show any signs of contamination, thus it should not be given to children below one year old.
- When opening a container, check if air rushes in or out. If the air rushes out, the food might be contaminated or spoiled.
- Smell the food in order to determine if there is spoiled odor. Take note that some strains of Clostridium botulinum do not cause the food to smell bad. On the other hand, even a smell test does not always guarantee that the food is safe to be eaten.
- Observe the color and texture of the food. The liquids must be clear and the broth in canned chicken or meat should be gelled.
Important considerations to bear in mind
Do no discard foods low in acid that are contaminated such as meat, fish, poultry or vegetables in the garbage without heating them first since they might contain toxins that can poison pets. You have to boil the opened container in water for 30 minutes and then cool and discard the contents. Nevertheless, you have to discard contaminated foods that contain high acid such as fruits in the garbage can or garbage disposal.
Foods that are low in acid which do not show any indications of infection but canning process was incorrectly done, it should be boiled for about ten minutes if the altitude is below 1,000 feet. At higher elevations, you have to add another minute of boiling time for every 1,000 feet of elevation. You can even microwave the food at the same span of time so that it will be considered safe to eat.