LARGE OUTBREAK OF BOTULISM - THE HAZARDOUS BAKED POTATO

In April 1994, the largest outbreak of botulism in the United States s ince 1978 occurred in El Paso, Texas. Thirty persons were affected; 4 required mechanical ventilation. All ate food from a Greek restaurant. The attack rate among persons who ate a potato-based dip was 86% (19/ 22) compared with 6% (11/176) among persons who did not eat the dip (r elative risk [RR] = 13.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 7.6-25.1). The attack rate among persons who ate an eggplant-based dip was 67% (6/9) compared with 132 (24/189) among persons who did not (RR = 5.2; 95% C I, 2.9-9.5), Botulism toxin type A was detected from patients and in b oth dips. Toxin formation resulted from holding aluminum foil-wrapped baked potatoes at room temperature, apparently for several days, befor e they were used in the dips. Consumers should be informed of the pote ntial hazards caused by holding foil-wrapped potatoes at ambient tempe ratures after cooking.