Epsilon toxin probably causes more human disease than any of the other 12 C. perfringens toxins. This protein is the cause of enterotoxemia, normally caused by ingesting contaminated food. Approximately x million people contract this form of food poisoning every year. The symptoms normally last 1-2 days, and are fairly slight. The disease is not normally life threatening, except for individuals who are already compromised (the elderly or pregnant women for example). The disease is common because of the resistant nature of C. perfringens bacteria to common decontamination procedures: the bacterium can form spores and thus survive high temperatures. When infected food is subsequently kept at room temperature for a prolonged period of time, the spores can then reproduce until infection has reached toxic levels.
The following is a list of sites related predominantely to food hygiene, with particular reference to clostridial type infection.