Английский язык: Сборник текстов и упражнений. Дьякова Н.П. - 55 стр.

                                     Text 20
                                   BOTULISM

    Clostridium Botulinum which forms the toxin causing botulism, is one of the
most powerful toxins known and can be present in food leading to death when ea-
ten. The importance of botulism in fish cannot be over stressed. It is discussed in
detail in Torry Research Station Advisory Note # 22 and is essential reading for
all who deal with fish.
    Fish in the UK is a very safe diet, but cases of botulism have occured in other
countries, and it must never be threated lightly. There are seven types of Clostri-
dium Botulinum of which type E is most common in fish intestines and gills. It is
also present in sea mud and soils. The bacteria can grow at low temperature and
will thrive in fish at 5°C. Fortunately the toxin is destroyed by cooking at 75°C or
over and the incidence of the bacteria is low in seas fished from the UK but it has
been found in a variety of fish including salmon and trout, farmed and wild,
mackerel and eels.
    From tests and research three factors emerge. First, the higher the storage
temperature, the faster bacteria grow to produce toxin. Secondly, toxin is formed
more slowly in smoked fish than raw fish, and thirdly, fish can become toxic
within the normal keeping time of the product. Usually fish are cooked before eat-
ing but smoked salmon and hot smoked trout, mackerel and eel eaten without fur-
ther cooking: To obtain maximum safety against botulism:
    1. Starve fish in clean ponds before killing.
    2. Remove gut and gills and thoroughly clean the fish. This can remove 90 per
cent or more of infection.
    3. Keep fish below 40°C by ice or refrigeration until sold.
    4. Brine and smoke cold and hot to give a minimum of 3 per cent salt content.
Keep cool below 40°C whether packaged or not, until sold.
    5. Vacuum packaging does improve keeping time but must be stored cool and
a selly-by label stuck on package.
    6. If deep frozen then any growth is prevented for many months.

                                    Vocabulary

   toxin                              токсин, яд
   to cause                           вызывать, являться причиной
   to stress                          подчеркивать
   to deal with                       заниматься чем-либо, иметь дело
   advisory note                      консультативная запись, примечание
   diet                               пища
   to treat                           относиться
   intestines                         кишки, кишечник
   mud                                ил
   soil                               почва, грязь
   to thrive                          процветать, преуспевать, разрастаться
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