Botulism is a rather serious form of food poisoning caused by toxins produced by clostridium botulinum bacteria. Botulism is very rare (about 20-30 adults in the US get it from food each year) but is fatal in about 5% of cases, so it should be taken very seriously. Strangely, the toxin is used as a beauty treatment but is also feared as a possible biological weapon. Symptoms of botulism generally present themselves in 18 to 36 hours.