Food botulism is the dominating form of the disease, and paralytic symptoms generally appear after an incubation period of 12–36 hours (up to several days) after consumption of the toxin-containing food.
Elintarvikkeista johtuva botulismi on taudin yleisin muoto. Halvaantumisoireet ilmaantuvat tavallisesti 12–36 tunnin (jopa vuorokausien) kuluessa myrkkyä sisältävän ruoan nauttimisesta.