1. Toxic proteins produced by certain bacteria that damage the intestinal lining and cause food poisoning or gastrointestinal illness.
Usage: plural form; medical/scientific term; commonly associated with Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium botulinum

Examples

• Staphylococcal enterotoxins are a common cause of food poisoning from contaminated dairy products.
• The enterotoxins produced by the bacteria spread through the bloodstream and affected the patient's digestive system.
• Food safety regulations require testing for enterotoxins in processed meats.
• Enterotoxins can survive cooking temperatures, making them a serious public health concern.
• The laboratory identified multiple enterotoxins in the contaminated food sample.