--- title: MMWR Says Botulism Was Responsible For One of 11 Outbreak Deaths In 2006 date: 2009-06-12T11:58:49-07:00 author: Bill Marler canonical_url: "https://marlerclark.com/news_events/mmwr-says-botulism-was-responsible-for-one-of-11-outbreak-deaths-in-2006" section: News --- [All News](/news_events) / [Outbreaks](https://marlerclark.com/news_events/outbreaks) / # MMWR Says Botulism Was Responsible For One of 11 Outbreak Deaths In 2006 We are very fortunate that while botulism is deadly it is also rare. Today’s issue of **Morbidity & Mortality Weekly Report** (MMWR) published by the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) carries an article that dissects all the food-borne disease outbreaks that occurred in 2006. In [“Surveillance for Foodborne Disease Outbreaks — United States, 2006;” ](http://by106w.bay106.mail.live.com/default.aspx?n=1610571309)CDC looks at all 1,270 Food-borne Disease Outbreak (FBDOs) that were reported during that year, resulting in 27,634 confirmed illnesses and 11 deaths. Only one of the 11 deaths was from **Clostridium botulinum** or **botulism.** That fatality was attributed to the C. botulinum toxin being transmitted by carrot juice. Writing on [his personal blog](http://www.marlerblog.com/) last December, Seattle food safety attorney Bill Marler told us what happened: ![](http://www.bolthouse.com/graphics/CarrotJuicebg.jpg)"For those that do not recall, in September 2006, three people living in Georgia developed food-borne **botulism** that was eventually traced to commercial carrot juice from a single bottle. Soon thereafter an additional case in Florida and two in Ontario, Canada surfaced. One of the 6 **botulism** patients died 90 days after illness onset. One year later, two others were still on ventilators. The remaining three were taken off ventilator support after 54, 90, and 129 days. Two survivors were at home, two were in rehabilitation facilities, and one was still hospitalized. All the patients had consumed carrot juice from the same manufacturer. "Now, here is the interesting part, according to Dr. Anandi N. Sheth at the Centers for Disease Control in Atlanta, Georgia and colleagues, an investigation eventually determined that inadequate refrigeration probably led to **botulinum toxin** production. As the investigators pointed out, the pasteurized carrot juice had no protection against the bacterium **Clostridium botulinum** other than refrigeration. "This investigation demonstrates that carrot juice and other processed foods with no natural barriers to **C. botulinum** germination require additional chemical or thermal barriers," the investigators wrote in the medical journal Clinical Infectious Diseases. Accordingly, they report, "In June 2007, the FDA modified its guidance for refrigerated low-acid juices to recommend adding a validated juice-treatment method, such as acidification or appropriate thermal treatment, to decrease the risk of **C. botulinum** contamination, should any breaches in refrigeration occur." Its comforting to know FDA may have addressed the problem and implemented the fix for the 2006 carrot juice outbreak. 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The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ Get a free consultation ](https://marlerclark.com/contact) ##### Related Resources ###### [What is Botulism?](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism/what-is-botulism) Botulism is a life-threatening paralytic illness caused by neurotoxins produced by an anaerobic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium—Clostridium botulinum. Botulism is a rare disease and only affects a few hundred persons each... ###### [Epidemiology and Microbiology of Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism/epidemiology-and-microbiology-of-botulism) C. botulinum bacteria and spores are widely distributed in nature because they are indigenous to soils and waters. They occur in both cultivated and forest soils, bottom sediment of streams... ###### [Symptoms of Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism/symptoms-of-botulism) After their ingestion, botulinum neurotoxins are absorbed primarily in the duodenum and jejunum, pass into the bloodstream, and travel to synapses in the nervous system. There, the neurotoxins cause flaccid... ###### [Detection and Treatment of Botulism](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism/detection-and-treatment-of-botulism) Although botulism can be diagnosed based on clinical symptoms, distinguishing it from other diseases is often difficult, especially in the absence of other known persons affected by the condition. Common... ###### [Botulism Outcomes and Long-Term and Permanent Injury](https://marlerclark.com/foodborne-illnesses/botulism/botulism-outcomes-and-long-term-and-permanent-injury) In the past 50 years, mortality from botulism has fallen dramatically (from about 50% to 8%) because of advances in supportive care, which is the mainstay of treatment. The respiratory... ##### Outbreak Database #### Looking for a comprehensive list of outbreaks? The team at Marler Clark is here to answer all your questions. Find out if you’re eligible for a lawsuit, what questions to ask your doctor, and more. [ View Outbreak Database ](https://outbreakdatabase.com)