Credit: Alamy
World’s Most Dangerous Toxin Can Kill Instantly And Is Found In Common Canned Foods
A rare outbreak of the most dangerous toxin killed one man and left nine hospitalized.
When it comes to the list of things we have to worry about in life, it’s a pretty long one.
From eating your five-a-day, to making sure we get in enough steps, it’ can become an exhausting cycle of daily to-do’s.
But just to add another, it’s been revealed that the world’s ‘most dangerous’ substance can be found in common canned foods, as well as our favourite cinema snack.
The toxin is, helpfully, odorless and almost impossible to detect, meaning it could be described as a deadly assassin just waiting to be consumed.
Signs that someone has ingested the substance include facial paralysis and a change in speech, so if you, or someone you know, is experiencing symptoms like this, you’re told to immediately drive to the hospital.
But to avoid being intoxicated by the substance when consuming canned foods, experts have advised storing them at 50-70 degrees Fahrenheit, and to use them within a year.
It’s also been advised to boil foods that are low in acid, such as asparagus, green beans, potatoes, tomatoes, seafood, and meat.
Avoiding cans that are swollen or cracked is also essential.
Ensuring these precautions are followed is key, given that it takes just 0.0000001 grams of the stuff to kill a human.
A 2017 outbreak saw the substance infiltrate nacho cheese, leaving the sauce a poisoned hazard.
As a result one man was killed, and nine were left hospitalized.
The tragic nacho cheese case began following reports of people getting sick after eating the sauce, which was bought from a gas station.
The outbreak of clostridium botulinum, the deadliest toxin which is 40 million times more potent than cyanide, was linked to four batches of poisoned cheese.
After claiming the life of a Californian man, a woman died a few weeks later, after being released from hospital having seemingly recovered.
The second most deadly substance is known as batrachotoxin, and is carried by the Golden Poison Frog – known as the most poisonous animal on the planet.
However, before you get too worried about the potential likelihood of death next time you decide to pick up a portion of cheesy nachos – it isn’t all bad news.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention actually explained that only 20 cases a year are linked to food poisoning.
Although it is a terrifying thought that just eight grams of the deadly toxin would be enough to wipe out the entire population of Earth…
And while we all know someone who loves to push the ‘use by’ date on things in their fridge, or utilise the ‘sniff test,’ one thing is for sure.
Botulinum toxin isn’t something to mess around with.
Related Article: Seven Foods You Must Store In Fridge During Heatwaves
Related Article: World’s Deadliest Food’ Kills Over 200 People Every Year
Want more stuff like this?
Get the best viral stories straight into your inbox!
