# Review of Foodborne Botulism in the UK: 2006–2024

## TL;DR

This paper reviews foodborne botulism cases in the UK from 2006 to 2024, highlighting the rarity of the disease and challenges in diagnosis and public health response.

## Contribution

The study provides an updated review of foodborne botulism in the UK, emphasizing recent trends and diagnostic challenges.

## Key findings

- There were 13 foodborne botulism cases reported in the UK between 2010 and 2024.
- Cases were often linked to imported, homemade, or artisanal foods.
- Diagnostic and public health challenges include delayed diagnosis and limited specimen availability.

## Abstract

Food-borne botulism is a rare but serious disease caused by ingestion of botulinum neurotoxin pre-formed in food by Clostridium botulinum. Between 2006 and 2009, no foodborne botulism cases were reported in the UK. However, the period from 2010 to 2024 saw 13 cases, encompassing seven separate incidents and two outbreaks, with no reported fatalities. Cases were predominantly linked to imported, home-made, and artisanal foods, occasionally to commercial products. Diagnostic and public health challenges include delayed clinical diagnosis, delayed sample collection, inadequate specimen volumes, and the frequent unavailability of suspected food sources, hampering epidemiological investigations. The UK has an extremely low incidence of foodborne botulism with an estimated rate of 0.001 cases per 100,000 people per year, but despite this low occurrence, food botulism remains a public health emergency as it requires timely treatment and rapid reactive intervention to be undertaken by multiple regulatory agencies. Continuous professional training of medical staff, up-to-date clinical guidance, rapid diagnostic, and food investigations are essential for optimising patient outcomes and prevention.