> is there a true reasoning behind all these or is it only the overcivilized
> worlds paranoia yet again helped by the "scientific" having no idea
> what they are talking about:-)??? thanks:
 
The answer is 'Both'.  A minority (I do not know how small) of infants have
digestive systems unable to deal with the botulism spore.  This spore is
harmless to adults and to most infants.  However, since these spores are quite
common in the world they can be in almost anything.  As spores they survive in
honey.  Ergo, honey could possibly be a carrier of the spores.  But, corn syrup,
a commonly (in the USA) recommended alternative to honey, has also been found to
contain the spores at times.  There is a risk that any non sterile food given to
infants could contain these spores.  If the infant in question is susceptable to
the growth of the bacteria in the digestive system it could be a problem.  The
recommended age to begin feeding honey (one year) includes a very large safety
factor.
 
I believe the risk is extremely small, but it is there with any non sterile
food which has been exposed to the environment, i.e. open air.  The only really
totally safe food for infants is mothers milk, fed directly from the mother.
And, who knows there may be some rare danger even then.
 
The world is not totally under our control.
 
 
 
--
"Test everything.  Hold on to the good."  (1 Thessalonians 5:21)
 
Tom Elliott
Eagle River, Alaska
U.S.A.
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