Contact: Samantha Mott
MottS@Saccounty.net
Phone: 916-875-0973 / Cell: 916-642-5508
Valley Oak Food and Fuel Botulism Update
In collaboration with California Department of Public Health and Sacramento County Department of Environmental Management,
Sacramento County Public Health is conducting an investigation to determine possible causes of illness in five patients recently hospitalized
with foodborne botulism; an additional patient with suspected foodborne botulism is currently under investigation.
Based on preliminary data, the source of their illnesses appears to be prepared food, particularly nacho cheese sauce, from the Valley Oak
Food and Fuel gas station in Walnut Grove. The sale of prepared food at this location was halted on May 5, by Sacramento County
Department of Environmental Management.
Botulism is a rare but serious paralytic illness caused by a nerve toxin that is produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. Symptoms
can include double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, slurred speech, difficulty swallowing, dry mouth, and muscle weakness.
Persons who consumed prepared food, particularly nacho cheese sauce, from Valley Oak Food and Fuel gas station from April 23, 2017
through May 5, 2017 and have symptoms should contact their medical provider immediately.
