Botulism is a form of food poisoning caused by a bacterial neurotoxin produced by various species of Clostridium, the best known of which belong to the Clostridium botulinum group. These strictly anaerobic, spore-forming bacteria are found in the environment (soil, water, and aquatic sediments). In this article, the author presents the epidemiological characteristics of human botulism in France from 1991 to 2000, based on surveillance data from mandatory reporting and the National Reference Center for Anaerobes. In France, botulism is included on the list of notifiable diseases (DO). The decree of June 10, 1986, established separate reporting requirements for botulism distinct from other collective foodborne illnesses (TIAC). The annual number of hospitalizations from 1995 to 1999 for which botulism was listed as the primary diagnosis was obtained from the hospital database of the Medical Information Systems Program (PMSI) (http://www.le-pmsi.fr/). Analysis of botulism surveillance data in France from 1991 to 2000 reveals changes in the epidemiology and food sources of botulism. A better understanding of these changes is necessary, particularly through an in-depth analysis of changes in food manufacturing processes. (adapted from the text)