Buzz
In 2011, a new strain of Escherichia coli, or E. coli, led to a significant outbreak of foodborne illness, primarily affecting northern Germany. Authorities spent months tracing the contamination source to fenugreek seeds imported from Egypt, which were used in brussels sprout cultivation. Nearly 4,000 individuals fell ill, and 53 lost their lives. This incident stands out as one of the most recent and widely reported cases of unexpected food poisoning globally. Below are ten additional lesser-known examples.
10. Beluga Whale Botulism
Despite representing only 0.2% of the U.S. population, Alaska is responsible for 50% of the country's foodborne botulism cases. Most incidents are linked to the consumption of traditional native foods. Historical records from Arctic explorers describe entire communities perishing from botulism after eating tainted meat. Before the 1960s, when educational initiatives taught Native Alaskans to recognize early botulism symptoms and seek timely antitoxin treatment, the mortality rate for those infected exceeded 50%.
Today, many associate botulism with “Botox” injections, commonly used for cosmetic purposes to reduce wrinkles. Numerous celebrities have opted for these treatments, leaving their faces immobile due to repeated doses of detoxified botulism. However, botulism is an ancient and lethal foodborne illness caused by the Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This bacteria produces a toxin in the body that can lead to muscle paralysis, breathing issues, loss of skin sensation, respiratory failure, cardiac arrest, paralysis, and even death.
In July 2002, two individuals from a Yup’ik village in western Alaska discovered the remains of a beached beluga whale that seemed to have died earlier in the spring. They sliced the tail fluke into portions, stored them in sealable plastic bags, and distributed the whale meat among family and friends. Shortly after consumption, a local doctor reported three suspected cases of botulism poisoning. Ultimately, eight Alaskan Natives were confirmed to have botulism, but all were successfully treated with antitoxin, and no fatalities occurred.
9. Snakes Clenbuterol
In one of the most bizarre recent cases of food poisoning, 13 individuals in China were hospitalized after consuming snake meat. Interestingly, the illness was not directly caused by the snakes themselves but by what the snakes had ingested. The snakes had eaten frogs that were fed clenbuterol. All 13 people had dined on snake at a local restaurant on September 1 and 2, 2010, and later experienced symptoms like flushing, headaches, chest tightness, palpitations, and trembling—common signs of clenbuterol poisoning. Cooking the snake did not eliminate the residual clenbuterol accumulated from the contaminated frogs. Clenbuterol, approved as a bronchodilator for asthma patients and used illicitly by athletes for performance enhancement, is sometimes added to animal feed to produce leaner meat. In this case, the frogs were “juiced,” fed to the snakes, and ultimately poisoned the humans.
8. Pruno Botulism
“Pruno” is a term used in prisons to describe homemade alcohol, crafted from whatever ingredients inmates can scavenge. Typically made with fruit, water, and sugar, it’s a quick way to create a celebratory drink. However, when fruit is unavailable, prisoners resort to alternatives like potatoes. In 2006, a group of Utah prison inmates used weeks-old baked potatoes to brew their pruno. Unbeknownst to them, Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which causes botulism, thrives on potato roots. Eight inmates fell ill after consuming the contaminated pruno, exhibiting classic symptoms such as difficulty swallowing, vomiting, double vision, and muscle weakness. Some required ventilator support. One prisoner, who avoided illness, took a single sip and immediately spat it out due to its revolting taste.
7. Grapes Cyanide
In 1989, a nationwide “grape scare” swept the United States after just two grapes were found to be contaminated with cyanide. The crisis began on March 2, 1989, when an anonymous caller alerted the US Embassy in Santiago, Chile, warning that fruit exports to the US and Japan had been poisoned with cyanide. The caller claimed this act was intended to highlight the struggles of the poor in Chile. US authorities treated the threat seriously, especially in light of the 1982 Tylenol scare, where cyanide-laced Tylenol capsules had caused multiple deaths and led to a nationwide recall. The FDA initiated its most extensive food safety investigation ever to assess the potential risk to the American food supply.
Fruit exports are a cornerstone of Chile's economy, ranking as the country’s second-largest export industry. Each year, thousands of tons of fruit are shipped globally. When a shipment of grapes arrived in Philadelphia, PA, some appeared suspicious and were tested. Two grapes were found to contain trace amounts of cyanide. In response, the FDA issued a public warning against consuming grapes and imposed a temporary ban on Chilean fruit imports. This triggered a “grape scare,” with Americans avoiding grapes altogether. The ban lasted only a few days before Chilean fruit was allowed back into the US market. However, Chile suffered an estimated $330 million in export losses during this period, sparking a diplomatic dispute as the Chilean government accused the US of overreacting or even tampering with the grapes.
6. Cornflour / Cornstarch Lead
Global food safety agencies routinely test for contaminants to prevent widespread outbreaks. In 2004, the New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) discovered lead contamination in egg custard during routine testing. The source was traced to a shipment of imported corn (maize), which was processed into approximately 100 tons of cornflour. This contaminated cornflour was then used in various products, some of which were exported to Australia and Fiji. New Zealand authorities promptly alerted these countries, and affected products were recalled to prevent further risks.
The NZFSA identified the source of lead contamination as the MV Athena, a ship that had transported lead concentrate between Australian ports in 2003. Later, the vessel traveled to China to load maize, storing it in the same compartment previously used for lead concentrate. The compartment was not cleaned, resulting in the maize becoming cross-contaminated with lead.
5. Cattle Polybrominated biphenyl
Polybrominated biphenyl (PBB), an endocrine disruptor and potential human carcinogen, is one of six substances banned by the European Union’s Restriction of Hazardous Substances, alongside lead and mercury. This chemical was at the center of one of the largest agricultural disasters in US history. In 1973, PBB, a fire-retardant, was accidentally mixed into cattle feed and distributed across Michigan. Before the error was detected, thousands of cattle and other animals had to be destroyed. Farmers protested by marching to the state capital and dumping dead cows on its steps, while thousands of people consumed PBB-tainted milk and meat.
The incident originated at Michigan Chemical, a company that produced both PBB (marketed as FireMaster, a fire retardant) and magnesium oxide (sold as NutriMaster, a cattle feed supplement—an example of poorly differentiated product naming). Due to a mix-up, 10-20 bags of PBB were mistakenly sent to Michigan Farm Bureau Services and added to cattle feed instead of NutriMaster. The contaminated feed was distributed statewide. Soon after consuming it, cows exhibited weakness and developed thick, elephant-like hides. Veterinarians were baffled by the mysterious illness spreading among cattle. It took nine months to identify the contamination source, during which 500 farms were quarantined, and thousands of cows, 1.5 million chickens, and numerous pigs, sheep, and rabbits were destroyed.
Today, individuals who consumed the contaminated food believe it is likely responsible for the higher cancer rates they observe throughout the state. Residents living near burial sites for the contaminated animals worry that PBB is leaching into their water supply, posing a potential health risk.
4. Bon Vivant Soup Botulism
Before air conditioning became common, summers were often too hot for cooking. On July 2, 1971, a couple in Westchester County, New York, opted for a cold meal of Bon Vivant brand vichyssoise soup, which is typically served chilled. They ate the soup straight from the can but found it tasted off and stopped eating. Unfortunately, the soup was contaminated with botulism. The man died within a day, and his wife was left paralyzed by the toxin. The FDA issued a warning and recalled all cans of Bon Vivant vichyssoise soup, discovering five more contaminated cans. The Bon Vivant plant was shut down, and all its products were recalled. Since Bon Vivant also produced generic store-brand soups, the incident caused a widespread “soup-panic,” with consumers avoiding all soups. The company lost public trust and eventually went bankrupt.
3. Pont-Saint-Esprit Ergot Poisoning or LSD?
On August 16, 1951, in Pont Saint-Esprit, France, an inexplicable event occurred that remains unresolved even after six decades. Over 250 villagers experienced hallucinations and madness, leading to 7 deaths and 50 individuals being confined to asylums. Officials attributed the incident to mass poisoning, likely caused by ergot-contaminated rye bread. Ergot, a psychedelic fungus (Claviceps purpurea), naturally grows on rye and produces alkaloids that induce hallucinogenic effects when consumed.
The hallucinations were severe and terrifying. Victims reported sensations like “serpents coiling up my arms,” feeling “on fire,” or believing they were “shrinking.” Some leaped from windows, while others harmed themselves trying to remove imaginary insects from their bodies. Many were restrained in straightjackets or chained to beds to prevent further harm.
While ergot poisoning is a plausible explanation, other theories include exposure to mercury, nitrogen trichloride, or other fungi. However, the most compelling theory suggests the villagers were deliberately dosed with LSD. In his book “A Terrible Mistake,” author Hank Albarelli presents a convincing case, supported by declassified documents, implicating the CIA in the Pont-Saint-Esprit incident.
Frank Olson, a CIA scientist involved in the MKULTRA program—a covert operation testing LSD on unsuspecting individuals—visited the town shortly before the event. Albarelli uncovered documents referencing Olson and Pont-Saint-Esprit, which were ordered to be “buried” by David Belin, the executive director of a 1975 government commission investigating CIA activities. Additionally, a declassified interview with a Sandoz Chemical Company representative revealed that their Swiss plant, located near Pont-Saint-Esprit, was the sole producer of LSD at the time. The representative stated, “The Pont-Saint-Esprit ‘secret’ is that it was not the bread at all… It was not grain ergot.”
2. Bradford Sweets Arsenic
In 1858, over 200 people in Bradford, England, were poisoned by arsenic, resulting in 20 deaths. This tragic event highlights the necessity of laws to regulate and penalize the adulteration of food and drink to protect public health.
William Hardaker, nicknamed “Humbug Billy,” sold sweets at Bradford’s Green Market. He sourced his sweets from Joseph Neal, who manufactured them. The lozenges, known as peppermint “humbugs,” were supposed to contain peppermint oil, sugar, and gum. However, to cut costs, Neal and other confectioners of the time used an inexpensive filler called “daft,” which could be anything from plaster of Paris to limestone.
For this particular batch, Neal sent his lodger, James Archer, to collect “daft” from his druggist, Charles Hodgson. On that day, Hodgson was too ill to assist, so Archer was helped by William Goddard, who was unfamiliar with the process. Goddard mistakenly sold Archer 12 pounds of arsenic trioxide, believing it to be “daft,” after being directed to a cask in the corner of the store.
Archer brought the arsenic trioxide back to Neal, who handed it over to his skilled sweet maker, James Appleton. Appleton combined 12 pounds of arsenic trioxide with 40 pounds of sugar to produce the lozenges. Both Appleton and Humbug Billy noticed the sweets looked unusual, leading Billy to negotiate a lower price. Shortly after consuming the arsenic-laced lozenges, Billy fell ill. However, he had already sold enough to poison over 200 people, resulting in 20 deaths. Authorities traced the outbreak back to Billy’s sweet stand, and tests revealed the lozenges contained 0.7 to 1 gram of arsenic—half a gram being lethal.
This incident played a significant role in the enactment of the Pharmacy Act 1868 in the UK, as well as laws regulating food adulteration.
1. Seed Grain Methyl Mercury
In 1971, one of the most severe public health crises and mass food poisoning events occurred when seed grain, intended for planting, was mistakenly consumed as food. The grain had been treated with methyl mercury, a highly toxic fungicide.
The mercury-treated seed grain arrived in Iraq late in the 1971 growing season, shipped from suppliers in Mexico and the USA. The seeds were dyed red as a warning against consumption, but this was not understood by the Iraqis. Additionally, the red dye could wash off, while the mercury remained. The bags were labeled in Spanish and English, languages unfamiliar to rural Iraqis, and the skull and crossbones symbols were either misunderstood or ignored. This confusion led some to mistakenly believe the seeds were edible.
Those who consumed the seeds experienced muscle paralysis, numbness, vision loss, and other symptoms of mercury poisoning. Exposure occurred through eating bread made from the seeds, inhaling dust from grinding them, and consuming animals fed with the contaminated grain. Illnesses and deaths began in late 1971 and continued into 1972. Estimates suggest at least 650 people died from direct or indirect exposure, though some believe the actual number could be ten times higher. Around 10,000 individuals suffered permanent brain damage due to mercury poisoning.
