The following excerpts from leading experts in the health & medical fields reveal a remarkable consistency on when honey can safely be introduced to babies and why it should be withheld from children before they attain the age of one year. Cautionary warnings from these sources are presented here. CLICK on any of the organization names to access other important information regarding babies, honey, and infant botulism.
Centers for Disease Control (CDC)
WARNING
Honey can contain the bacteria that causes infant botulism, so do not feed honey to children younger than 12 months. Honey is safe for people 1 year of age and older.
Mayo Clinic
WARNING
Avoid giving honey — even a tiny taste — to babies under the age of 1 year. Honey can cause a rare but serious gastrointestinal condition (infant botulism) caused by exposure to Clostridium botulinum spores. Bacteria from the spores can grow and multiply in a baby’s intestines, producing a dangerous toxin.
American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP)
WARNING
Do not give honey to a baby younger than 12 months. Honey is safe for children 1 year and older.
Infant Botulism Treatment & Prevention Program
WARNING
The only known prevention measure for infant botulism is to avoid feeding honey to infants 12 months of age or less.
KidsHealth
WARNING
One way to reduce the risk of botulism is to not give infants honey or any processed foods containing honey before their first birthday. Honey is a proven source of the bacteria and has led to botulism in infants who’ve ingested it.
Parents.com
WARNING
Pediatricians recommend waiting until your baby is at least 12 months before introducing honey because it may contain spores of bacteria that can cause botulism … These bacteria are harmless to adults and children over 1. But it can make babies, whose digestive and immune systems are less developed, seriously (and possibly fatally) sick. For this reason, it’s best to avoid all honey for the first year — even jars that claim to have been pasteurized.