Chuck said:

> I was not writing about barnyards and animal waste in my previous
> posting, chloramphenicol is used to kill bacteria found in human
> waste that is taken back to the hive by foraging workers searching
> for liquids, and it is my understanding that the same bacteria is
> harmful to honey bee larvae and to a lessor extent honey bee adults.

I always wondered why Chinese honey had its distinctive "flavor profile"
(translation: utterly unpalatable unless blended with honey from elsewhere)
and now I think we can all understand exactly where the flavor comes from.

But given the well-hyped antimicrobial activity inherent in honey, I'm
confused as to which bacteria from biological human waste (translation:
open cesspools), or from any other source, would be nasty and persistent
enough to be able to kill larvae when fed to the larvae in "brood food".

And if this bacteria can survive exposure to honey and be present in honey
in quantity sufficient to kill enough larvae to be a widespread problem, what
risks might this bacteria pose to humans who eat the honey?  I do know that
people in developing nations start to lead much longer and much happier lives
when taught to fetch water upstream of where they bathe, and bathe upstream of
where they dispose of human wastes.

So, which is worse - chloramphenicol in honey, or the bacteria that prompted
the use of chloramphenicol?

While honey tends to be evaporated down from nectar, and would not have any
water added by the bees, one must recall that bees cool the hive by collecting
water, spreading it among empty cells, and then fanning (bees invented the
"swamp cooler").  The water, if contaminated, will evaporate, and leave the
bacteria in the cell, where honey will later be stored.  One can only hope
that the bacteria dehydrate and die when the water evaporates, but the official
list of "famous last words of scientists" includes the following:

  Microbiologist:  "These bacteria cannot live outside this growth media..."
  Field Biologist: "Don't worry - they never attack humans..."


        jim (Bacteria are the only culture some people have)

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