Clostridium botulinum (Botulism)

Illness Potentially Associated with

Commercially Canned Soup

After-Action Review Report 2022-03

Highlights

• The Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS)

and the Centers for Disease Control and 

Prevention (CDC) investigated a Clostridium 

botulinum (Botulism) illness possibly linked to a 

commercially canned soup product. Botulism is a 

rare but serious illness that attacks the body’s 

nerves.

• CDC confirmed botulinum toxin was present in the 

patient’s blood and an empty soup can.

• The can was made in a dual jurisdiction 

establishment that produces and ships products 

regulated by FSIS and the Food and Drug 

Administration (FDA). 

• FSIS gathered records to identify and obtain cans 

from the same production lot in commerce. The 

cans were tested by FSIS laboratories and the 

contents were found to be negative for the 

bacterium (C. botulinum) and the botulism toxin. 

Investigation at a 

Glance

Illnesses 1

States included 1

Hospitalizations 1

Deaths 0

Response at a Glance

Investigative 

samples tested

by FSIS

37

Recall or Public 

Health Alert

No

Process Improvements

FSIS will reemphasize the 

need for consumers to not 

buy or use damaged cans by 

incorporating messaging on 

this topic into its regular 

social media postings

targeted towards consumers. 

These social media postings 

include both the English and 

Spanish Twitter accounts as 

well as the FoodSafety.gov 

Facebook page.
What happened?

On December 7, 2021, CDC informed FSIS of a 

suspect botulism illness in one state (Arizona). Botulism 

is a rare but serious illness caused by toxins that attack 

the body’s nerves The Arizona Department of Health 

Services (AZDHS) collected samples from the patient’s 

home, including an empty can of chicken rice with 

vegetables soup that was recovered from the kitchen 

trash, and sent the samples to CDC for botulinum toxin 

testing. On December 10, 2021, CDC notified FSIS that 

botulinum toxin type A was identified in both the patient 

and the empty soup can. AZDHS staff noted that the

can was dented but not leaking or bulging. The soup reportedly had an abnormal odor 

when opened. A microwave was used to heat the soup. No other cans of this product 

were available at the home for testing. 

FSIS investigated the federally inspected establishment that manufactured the soup and 

did not find anything of concern. No cans remained at the establishment from the same 

lot as the can that was tested. The FSIS collected 37 cans of product in commerce with 

the same lot code and time of production, between 401 minutes before and 179 minutes 

after the timestamp on the CDC-tested can. These cans were tested as a joint 

laboratory investigation between the FSIS laboratory system and the Food Emergency 

Response Network (FERN). No leaks or defects were found in the cans collected from 

commerce and testing for C. botulinum and botulism toxins was negative.

Based on investigation of the establishment and laboratory, this appears to have been 

an isolated incident. The can could have been damaged at some point after production,

and this may have led to the contamination of the contents of the can. For this reason, 

FSIS and public health partners recommend consumers examine cans and discard 

cans that are damaged or bulging, and do not consume contents that have an abnormal 

smell.
What we learned from this outbreak

What can you do to prevent or solve the next 

outbreak? 

Helpful Links

Consumer education

This illness underscores the importance of consumer education regarding 

hazards associated with eating food from damaged or dented cans. Continued 

work by FSIS and public health partners is encouraged to educate consumers 

on the risks of consuming spoiled or dented canned food. 

Retailers should examine 

cans during the stocking 

process and set aside 

cans that are damaged 

or bulging. Retailers 

should not sell cans that 

appear to be damaged, 

bulging or leaking.

 ontinue to work closely 

with local, state, and 

federal partners to build 

partnerships to detect and 

investigate outbreaks 

 ublic health partners 

should let know

( oodborne isease eports

@usda gov) if -

regulated products may be 

suspected in an outbreak 

 lease visit the 

website for information on

becoming a 

laboratory member 

Public Health Partners

Botulism, while rare, is

often linked to canned 

foods. FSIS encourages 

consumers to discard cans 

and not to eat foods from 

containers that are leaking, 

bulging or swollen, look 

damaged or cracked, or 

seem abnormal in 

appearance. For more 

information on how to 

prevent foodborne 

botulism, please visit the 

FSIS website, the CDC 

website, and download the 

FSIS fact sheet.

Retailers Consumers

Good communication 

This investigation highlights the importance of a quick response and 

good collaboration between state and federal public health partners

involving an uncommon bacteria (C. botulinum). Open lines of 

communication facilitated the timely collection of samples, locating cans 

in commerce, and relaying laboratory results. Continuing to foster 

relationships with public health partners will enable FSIS to continue to 

quickly respond to future outbreaks. 
Helpful Links

• Clostridium botulinum (usda.gov)

• Clostridium botulinum & Botulism | Food Safety and Inspection Service (usda.gov)

• helf- table ood afety ood afety and nspection ervice (usda gov)

• Botulism page

• ood oisoning ymptoms

• ood mergency esponse etwork ( )

• esources for ublic Health artners

• icrobiology aboratory uide for xamination of anned and septically 

 rocessed, Hermetically ealed eat and oultry roducts

• eport a roblem with ood | ood afety and nspection ervice (usda gov)

• ind more information about ’ response to foodborne outbreaks on the 

 utbreaks page 

• ubscribe to get email updates from about food safety, including actions 

consumers can take when specific products are linked to illness outbreaks