honey to infant :: Article CreatorBabies Can't Eat Honey Because The Bacteria Can Cause Infant Botulism
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While most adults can eat honey without problems, it's a different story for babies less than one-year-old. Honey contains C. Botulinum bacteria, which can produce a toxin in a baby's large intestine, leading to a rare but serious illness known as "infant botulism."
Following is a transcript of the video.
This is C. Botulinum. It's a bacterium that can produce one of the world's most lethal substances. It lives in lots of places including the soil, pollen, dust, and also right here: in honey.
So why haven't you died from eating this sweet treat? Well, because you're not a baby. As C. Botulinum grows, it produces a toxin called botulinum. It's the same stuff used in Botox. But Botox has an extremely low dose compared to infected food. In large amounts, the toxin would attack your nervous system causing the illness known as botulism.
Which can lead to paralysis and even death. And since C. Botulinum is so common in our environment, researchers believe that bees pick it up on their way to the hive, where they produce honey.
One study found C. Botulinum bacteria in about 8% of their honey samples. But before you purge your pantry, consider this: Normally when we encounter C. Botulinum, like in honey, it's dormant. And in this sleepy state, it can't produce the toxin. Even if you eat it. That is, unless you're less than 1 year old.
When C. Botulinum enters a baby's large intestine, it comes alive. Because, unlike children and adults, babies less than one year old haven't been eating real, solid foods.
Instead, they drink milk. But when babies are around 4 to 6 months old, they stop drinking human milk and they start eating other foods they've never had before. As a result, their gut microbes change very abruptly. And it's during this transition period in the baby's gut, that the lethal C. Botulinum bacteria are free to grow and produce the toxin.
As the toxin enters the baby's bloodstream, it blocks the ability of motor nerves to release acetylcholine, a chemical messenger that sends nerve signals to muscles. As a result, the baby starts to lose control of muscles and appears tired and floppy. As more toxin enters the bloodstream, the muscles that control swallowing and breathing stop working.
Fortunately, infant botulism is not very common, and infant botulism due to honey is even rarer. Fewer than 100 cases occur in the US each year, and while it's difficult to pinpoint the source of the bacterium in many cases, experts think honey accounts for 15% of cases.
So it's important that if your infant shows signs of weakness,you take them to be evaluated by medical professionals immediately, in some cases, doctors can administer an effective antitoxin. But it can take babies weeks to a month to recover. The FDA recommends waiting until your baby's first birthday to feed them honey or any products that are filled or dipped in honey.
EDITOR'S NOTE: This video was originally published in March 2019.
Why Should Babies Not Have Honey?
Larger text size Large text size Regular text size Babies younger than 1 year old should not be given honey. That's because a type of bacteria (called Clostridium) that causes infant botulism can be found in honey. Infant botulism can cause muscle weakness, with signs like poor sucking, a weak cry, constipation, and decreased muscle tone (floppiness). How Can I Protect My Baby From Infant Botulism? Parents can help prevent infant botulism by not giving their baby honey or any processed foods that contain honey (like honey graham crackers) until after their child's first birthday. Light and dark corn syrups also might contain botulism-causing bacteria, but a link hasn't been proved. Check with your doctor before giving these syrups to a baby. What Else Should I Know? As kids get older, they can have honey because their mature digestive systems move the Clostridium bacteria spores through the body before they can cause harm.
Date reviewed: February 2023
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Infant Botulism
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What Is Infant Botulism?
Infant botulism is an illness that can happen when a baby ingests (takes in) toxins from a type of bacteria. Babies with infant botulism (BAH-chuh-liz-im) can have muscle weakness, a weak cry, and trouble breathing. They need to be treated in a hospital. With early diagnosis and proper medical care, a baby should fully recover from the illness.
What Causes Infant Botulism?
Infant botulism is caused by a toxin (a poison) from Clostridium botulinum bacteria, which live in soil and dust. The bacteria can get on surfaces like carpets and floors and also can contaminate honey. That's why babies younger than 1 year old should never be given honey or any processed foods that contain honey (like honey graham crackers).
These bacteria are harmless to older kids and adults. Their mature digestive systems can move the toxins through the body before they cause harm.
Infant botulism usually affects babies who are younger than 6 months old. But all babies are at risk for it until their first birthday.
What Are the Signs & Symptoms of Infant Botulism?
Babies with infant botulism might have:
constipation (often the first sign that parents notice) weak facial muscles that makes their face look "flat" a weak cry weak muscles in the arms, legs, and neck, leading to floppiness breathing problems trouble swallowing with a lot of drooling They also might not feed well or move as much as usual.
How Is Infant Botulism Diagnosed?
Doctors diagnose infant botulism by asking about the baby's symptoms. They'll do an exam, and might order tests to look for the toxin and to see how the baby's muscles are working.
How Is Infant Botulism Treated?
Babies with infant botulism need care in a hospital, usually in the intensive care unit (ICU). The health care team will try to limit the problems the toxin causes in the baby's body.
Doctors treat infant botulism with an antitoxin called botulism immune globulin intravenous (BIGIV). They give this to babies as soon as possible if they suspect botulism. Babies with botulism who get BIGIV early recover sooner and spend less time in the hospital than babies who don't.
If the toxin affects the breathing muscles, a baby might need to use a breathing machine (ventilator) for a few weeks until they get stronger. It also can affect the swallowing muscles, so babies usually need intravenous (IV) fluids or feedings through a tube to get nourishment.
Can Infant Botulism Be Prevented?
Experts don't know why some infants get botulism while others don't.
One way to reduce the risk of botulism is to not give infants honey or any processed foods with honey before their first birthday. Honey is a proven source of the bacteria. Light and dark corn syrups also might contain botulism-causing bacteria, but a link hasn't been proved. Check with your doctor before giving these syrups to a baby.
If you have questions about other products to avoid, ask your doctor.
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