There’s two ways you die from botulism. One is that you just can’t breathe and you suffocate to death. And the other is a cardiac event. So people are all worried about the breathing part and they’re focused so much on that that they don’t look the other direction down the street. And here comes a Mack truck called Cardiac Death. — Dr. Jane Talkington
What to listen for:
This episode traces botulism from a misunderstood toxin to a modern medical mystery, exploring how the same poison shows up in home-canned fish, honey, infant formula, and cosmetic injections, why doctors so often miss the diagnosis, and what survival, and its lasting aftermath, actually looks like for the people who live through it.
Guests:
- Dr. Jane Talkington: Botulism historian and author
- Dr. Steve Abrams: Pediatrician and researcher specializing in infant nutrition and food regulation; co-author of the American Academy of Pediatrics textbook on pediatric nutrition
- Michael Christy: Botulism survivor