REGARDING RE>Botulism Adrian Wenner wrote, quoting sources" >Surveys of honeys from some other > countries have shown no trace of the toxin, e.g., France (Colin et al., > 1986) and Norway (Hetland, 1986).< To which Tom Elliot replied: >there have been Costridium Botulinum spores found in some honey >samples.< Notice that we are comparing apple with oranges. The pertinent point in this whole discussion is that neither botulism toxin nor the Claustridium botulinum organism is found in honey. However, the *spores* may be present since they are ubiquitous. And given the right conditions, these spores may germinate and reproduce. Apparently among conditions permitting germination are the GI tracts of certain predisposed young infants. And following such germination, a nutrient rich medium would be perfect for the organism's multiplication and subsequent excretion of the botulism toxin. It is because of this that it is only prudent to post warnings about feeding of honey to newborn infants. Ted Fischer Dexter, Michigan USA