I see a lot of people pairing botulism with like bad food? What is it about food that’s gone bad that makes botulism happen? What even is botulism? Obvi I can search it up, but I want to be explained it in very very laymens terms and to why it happens
In: Biology
There’s a bacteria called Botulinum, which naturally lives in soil in conditions without a lot oxygen. It’s a common contaminant, and loves to grow in preserved food that’s free of most oxygen, and not too acidic.
The problem is that the toxin it produces is the single deadliest substance known to humans, it takes a TINY amount to kill you. The toxin interferes with how nerves talk to muscles, and result in ~~ascending~~ descending paralysis, and then death by respiratory arrest. There is no antidote, the only treatment is supportive care like ventilation.
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