Why can’t I feed honey to my baby less than one year of age?

It is advisable to feed honey only to babies after the age of one. Honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores that affect the nervous system of young infants (under one year of age). C. botulinum spores are present throughout the environment and may be found in dust, soil and improperly canned foods.

Adults and children over the age of one are exposed regularly to this spores but not normally affected. Honey is also safe for consumption during pregnancy and lactation. While infants are susceptible to C.botulinum spores, pregnant women and lactating mothers are not. The concern arises because infants lack a fully developed gastrointestinal tract which is easily affected by the spores. Pregnant women are not in danger of developing this condition, and cannot pass the spores by lactation, therefore making the baby safe. Spores are inactivated when manufactured food products (such as cereals or nuts) receive a roasting heat treatment. For more information on infant botulism