Switzerland: Two Cases of Foodborne Botulism in Valais Lead to Recall of Pork Hock Terrine in Glass Jar

The canton of Valais reported on October 7, 2026, in a public health statement, two cases of foodborne botulism identified in its territory. The Federal Food Safety and Veterinary Office (FSVO) published the same day, on its recall list and in the RecallSwiss app, the recall of a 360-gram pork hock terrine in a glass jar due to suspected botulism. According to regional press reports, both patients are hospitalized. The product was sold in markets and some butcher shops, and the affected lots were withdrawn from the market.

Authorities ask those who bought it not to consume or open it, and to discard it. Anyone who has eaten it and has symptoms consistent with botulism should go to an emergency room immediately and report the consumption and the suspicion. Warning signs include dry mouth, blurred or double vision, difficulty speaking or swallowing, and muscle weakness or paralysis. The canton also informed health professionals in Valais in emergency medicine, general medicine, pediatrics, otorhinolaryngology, ophthalmology, neurology, and pulmonology to facilitate early detection of new cases. Foodborne botulism is not transmitted from person to person.

Botulism is a form of poisoning caused by the toxin produced by Clostridium botulinum, a spore-forming bacterium that grows without oxygen. Jarred meat or low-acid products, prepared without a validated heat treatment to destroy the spores, are a classic vehicle, because the sealed jar creates the anaerobic conditions the bacterium needs. The product may look and smell normal, and the toxin, although destroyed when the food is boiled for several minutes, cannot be detected with the naked eye.

For producers of canned foods and jarred dishes, the case is a reminder that commercial sterilization or acidification must be validated for each recipe and jar size. TAAG's catalog does not include a validated kit for Clostridium botulinum or its toxin, so no recommendation is forced for this outbreak.