Botulin toxin found in Luhačovice hotel pâté, authorities warn

The director of the Zlín Regional Veterinary Administration, Michal Kamarád, reported that a sample of "Naše vepřová paštika s mandlí" sold by a hotel in Luhačovice contained botulin toxin. The State Veterinary Institute in Olomouc analysed three samples and confirmed the presence of the toxin, produced by *Clostridium botulinum*, in one of them. The product’s best‑before date is 14 September 2023.

Health officials have urged everyone who purchased the pâté not to eat it. Anyone who has already consumed it and experiences symptoms such as blurred or double vision, drooping eyelids, difficulty swallowing or speaking, dry mouth, muscle weakness or respiratory problems should seek medical attention immediately. KHS ZK director Miroslav Procházka and hygiene department head Růžena Bednaříková emphasized the seriousness of botulism, a rare but potentially life‑threatening foodborne poisoning.

The incident highlights the importance of strict hygiene in food preservation, as botulin toxin is extremely rare in the Czech Republic and typically arises from improperly canned or preserved meat products.