Tag: Clostridium botulinum

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), infants under 12 months should not be given honey due to the risk of infant botulism. This potentially fatal risk is why adults can eat honey but not babies, and it's something every parent and caregiver needs to understand completely.

It's a common misconception that Botox comes from an animal, but the truth is far more microbiological. The core component of Botox is a neurotoxin produced by the bacterium *Clostridium botulinum*, which is found naturally in soil, lakes, and forests. This powerful neurotoxin undergoes an extensive purification and dilution process to become the safe, therapeutic product used in aesthetic and medical fields today.

With a median lethal dose (LD50) of approximately 1 nanogram per kilogram of body weight, botulinum neurotoxin is the most potent toxin known to science. This incredibly deadly substance, produced by the bacterium *Clostridium botulinum*, has fascinated scientists for centuries due to its extreme power and dual nature as both a lethal poison and a valuable medical tool.

With an estimated lethal dose ($LD_{50}$) for humans measured in tiny fractions of a gram, the botulinum toxin is the undisputed answer to the question, **what is the most toxic toxin in the world?** Produced by the bacterium *Clostridium botulinum*, this potent neurotoxin attacks the nervous system and causes a rare but potentially fatal paralytic illness.