• A suspected outbreak of botulism food poisoning affected Moscow as 121 people reported symptoms of the same, with 55 in serious condition and 30 requiring intensive care.

• Early intervention by antitoxin treatment ensured that, though serious, people’s lives were not in danger, as assured by the authorities.

• The outbreak is suspected to have been caused by tainted salads supplied by an online food delivery company. 

• The Moscow prosecutor’s office halted operations and opened a criminal investigation against the company.

• Rospotrebnadzor, the city’s consumer watchdog, has conducted an epidemiological investigation since the first case was reported.

• Meanwhile, authorities are investigating how the neurotoxin entered the food chain and identifying other compromised food products.

• This outbreak shows the need for constant vigilance over food sources to ensure such outbreaks do not occur again.

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