Overview
Botulism is a rare but serious illness. Each year, U.S. health care providers report an average of 110 cases of botulism to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This fact sheet will focus on botulism caused by eating contaminated food. About 10 to 30 outbreaks of foodborne botulism are reported annually. Although this illness does not occur frequently, it can be fatal if not treated quickly and properly.