Evaluation of the Botulism Hazard in Fresh Mushrooms Wrapped in Commercial Polyvinylchloride Film

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Abstract
The botulism hazard in fresh mushrooms wrapped in commercial polyvinylchloride (PVC) film appears to be minimal. At the end of their normal shelf-life, 1,078 packages of PVC-wrapped mushrooms were all free of botulinum toxin. Since inoculated mushrooms were occasionally found to be toxic (14 in 250 packages) when only one 1/8-inch hole was punched in the wrapper, and none became toxic when two holes were present, it seems prudent to recommend that PVC-wrapped tills of mushrooms have two holes in the wrapper.