The influence of 0.4% sodium acid pyrophosphate (SAPP) or 0.26% potassium sorbate (PS) on Clostridium botulinum 52A growth and toxicity from spores was studied at two pH levels 5.55 and 5.85. Absorbancy measurements at 630 nm were used in combination with microscopic evaluations and toxin analysis to compare effects of additives on normal cell development. Treatment cultures containing 0.4% SAPP and 0.26% PS at a higher pH of 5.85 showed no increase in absorbancy and no sign of toxicity, but elongated vegetative cells (≥9 μm) were observed using phase contrast microscopy rather than scanning electron microscopy. The SAPP-PS treatment culture at a lower pH of 5.55 displayed no signs of growth spectrophometrically or microscopically, as well as no toxicity. These data suggest that a SAPP-PS combination in a laboratory medium at pH 5.85 does not halt germination and outgrowth, yet may prevent cell division; whereas, the same treatment at pH 5.55 inhibits normal spore germination.