How can botulism be prevented?

Botulism can be prevented. Foodborne botulism has often been from home-canned foods with low acid content, such as asparagus, green beans, beets and corn. However, outbreaks of botulism from more unusual sources such as chopped garlic in oil, chile peppers, tomatoes, improperly handled baked potatoes wrapped in aluminum foil, and home-canned or fermented fish. Persons who do home canning should follow strict hygienic procedures to reduce contamination of foods. Oils infused with garlic or herbs should be refrigerated. Potatoes which have been baked while wrapped in aluminum foil should be kept hot until served or refrigerated. Because the botulism toxin is destroyed by high temperatures, persons who eat home-canned foods should consider boiling the food for 10 minutes before eating it to ensure safety.

Instructions on safe home canning can be obtained from county extension services or from the US Department of Agriculture. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum and this has been shown to be a source of infection for infants.  Therefore, children less than 12 months old should not be fed honey. Wound botulism can be prevented by promptly seeking medical care for infected wounds and by not using injectable street drugs. (Source: excerpt from Botulism General: DBMD)