There have only been 11 confirmed cases of infant botulism in the past 30 years, but three of these have occurred in the past year and all have had possible links to honey. The most recent case involved a 15-week-old baby.
Honey is safe for children over the age of one, but a younger baby’s gut isn’t sufficiently developed to be able to fight off the botulism bacteria. This is why parents are advised not to give babies honey until they are one year old.
Sam Montel, nutritionist at the Food Standards Agency, said: “For around the first six months, babies only need breast milk or infant formula, and though it may be tempting to give honey to your baby to ease coughs, infant botulism is a very serious illness and it simply isn’t worth the risk.
“Once introduced to solid foods, it’s always best to avoid sweetening your baby’s food or giving them sugary snacks and drinks. This will help stop them developing a sweet tooth and tooth decay.”
Botulism is caused by a germ that normally lives in a dormant form in soil and dust and occasionally gets into honey. If the germ gets into a baby’s intestine, it can grow and produce a toxin or poison, leading to infant botulism. This is because babies under a year old do not have sufficiently developed guts to fight off the bacteria.
Although infant botulism is incredibly rare, it’s a serious illness that causes muscle weakness and breathing problems, often resulting in hospital treatment. Although recovery can be slow, almost all babies recover fully.
Source: Food Standards Agency
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