>>As far as I can tell from my own reading (as a beekeeper and relatively new
parent), the danger is mostly to babies under 6 months
Yes, 90% of the 80-100 cases of infant botulism diagnosed in the US each year are in infants < 6 months old. [Botulism also occurs in adults.] Less than 5% are attributed to honey. 8% of the cases are fatal. The first signs are lethargy and constipation followed by muscle paralysis starting with the face.
It would interesting to know what % of these cases are in breast-fed infants. Breast-fed babies have more varied microflora in the small intestines and stronger immune systems. The toxins become dangerous when the digestive tract is allowed to be colonized by the bacterium.
>>I took the middle road. She didn't need a pacifier dipped in honey, or honey at all, so I didn't give it to her.
We surprised that we could take the pacifiers from our sons within 3-4 wks after birth. One should be careful in presenting raw foods to infants in general. We started raw honey in small amounts at 3 months w/o ill effects.
If an infant has a compromised immune system or one is not sure it's better not to feed honey.
>>However, if it was in cereal or baked goods or she ate a bit of my honey-laced yogurt...
Cooking at 250F for 3 min. kills b, spores.
Waldemar
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