The Ministry of Municipal Affairs statement stated that the Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism poisoning, in a sample of BON TUM mayonnaise, is the cause of the poisoning that occurred recently in Riyadh.
The World Health Organization says that
Foodborne botulism, caused by the consumption of improperly prepared food, is rare but potentially fatal if not quickly diagnosed and treated with an antivenom.
Homemade canned, preserved or fermented foods are a common source of foodborne botulism and their preparation requires extra caution.
Foodborne botulism is a severe disease that can be fatal, but is relatively rare. It is a poisoning condition that usually results from the ingestion of botulinum toxins that form in contaminated food. Botulism is not transmitted from one person to another.
Botulinum toxins cause neurotoxicity and thus affect the nervous system. Foodborne botulism is characterized by descending flaccid paralysis that can cause respiratory failure. Initial symptoms include pronounced fatigue, weakness, and dizziness, usually followed by blurred vision, dry mouth, and dysphagia and dysarthria. Symptoms of vomiting, diarrhea, constipation, and abdominal swelling may also appear. The disease can develop to lead to a feeling of weakness in the neck and arms and then affect the respiratory muscles and muscles of the lower body. He does not develop a fever or lose consciousness.
The disease can be fatal in a percentage of cases ranging between 5 and 10 percent.