Foodborne illnesses have repeatedly altered the course of human history, from determining military outcomes to fueling social panics. Ancient accounts suggest Alexander the Great’s death in 323 BCE resulted from Salmonella typhi infection, possibly contracted via contaminated food or water. His sudden demise at age 32 triggered the collapse of his empire and reshaped the ancient world. Similarly, the Great Plague of Athens (430–426 BCE), which killed a quarter of Athens’ population during the Peloponnesian War, is now theorized to have been caused by contaminated grain. This catastrophe weakened Athens militarily and contributed to Sparta’s eventual victory.

Ergotism and Social Upheaval

In medieval Europe, outbreaks of “St. Anthony’s Fire” caused mass hallucinations, convulsions, and gan

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