Honey Cautions

From: Geri Guidetti <[email protected]>

Duane Miles wrote:
>
>If I recall correctly, honey contains very, very small amounts of the
>bacteria that cause botulism. For adults, this seldom causes problems.
>Our immune system is capable of dealing with small numbers of even
>nasty bacteria, they do it all the time. The problem is when we get
>large numbers of bacteria, or when our immune system is damaged or not
>yet developed.
>
>That is where the problem with honey comes in. Some people used to use
>honey to sweeten milk or other foods for infants. Infants immune
>systems sometimes cannot handle the bacteria that cause botulism, and,
>of course, those infants became seriously ill. So pediatricians now
>advise strongly against using honey for children under a certain age.

Yes, honey can contain the temperature resistant spores of Clostridium botulinum, the bacterium that causes botulism. The organism is a strict anaerobe, meaning that it only grows in the absence of molecular oxygen. The problem with infants and honey is that the small, intestinal tract of an infant apparently is sufficiently anaerobic to allow the spores to germinate into actively growing C. botulinum organisms. Essentially, the infant serves the same role as a sealed, airtight, contaminated can of beans as far as the organisms are concerned. There in the infant's body the bacteria secrete the dangerous toxin that causes the symptoms of botulism. There have been quite a few documented infant deaths due to honey. As I recall, the studies identifying honey as the source were done in the '80s. Most pediatricians recommend no honey for the first year. It is probably best to check with your own for even later updates ...
Geri Guidetti, The Ark Institute

Q: My can of honey is bulging. Is it safe to use?

A: Honey can react with the can lining to release a gas especially when stored over a long period of time. Honey's high sugar content prevents bacteria growth. If there is no sign of mold growth, it is safe to eat. FREQUENTLY ASKED FOOD QUESTIONS, FN250

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