Honey: Why isn't it safe for infants?

Never give honey to infants younger than 1 year. Honey is a known source of bacterial spores that produce the bacterium Clostridium botulinum . This bacterium makes a toxin that can cause infant botulism. This rare but serious form of food poisoning affects a baby's nervous system and can result in death. Unlike adults, infants haven't developed beneficial bacteria in their digestive tracts that can control botulism spores and prevent growth of the bacterium and production of its toxin.

Signs and symptoms of infant botulism include:

•  Persistent constipation

•  Floppy arms, legs and neck

•  Weak cry due to muscle weakness

•  Weak sucking and poor feeding

•  Tired all the time (lethargy)

Botulism spores are also found in uncooked food. For this reason, feeding an infant any undercooked food is risky as well.