Why cant infants eat honey?

Ever heard of botulism? It's a type of food poisoning. As we get older, our digestive tracts easily destroy the germs. However, in an infant under the age of one, their little digestive tracts can't handle it, and it could actually kill them. This bacteria is found in honey.

What Is Infant Botulism?

Botulism is a rare but serious illness that is caused by toxins (poisons) produced by specific bacteria. In severe cases, it can lead to paralysis or death. Infant botulism is the most common form of the disease (see Botulism Types). About 75 percent of cases that occur each year are infant botulism.

It can contain spores of Botulism bacteria. So,it's not good to give to a child that young. My daughter is 14 months and the only honey she's had has been in crackers and cereal. So far,no bad reaction at all.

With my daughter I chose to error on the side of caution. She never had anything containing honey until 12 months.

Botulism:

For a child under twelve months of age, there is a risk of botulism from eating honey and it should be avoided. The spores of the Clostridium botulinum bacteria can be found in honey, and when ingested by an infant, the spores can release a toxin that causes botulism.

honey contains spores of harmful bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

This bacterium can cause disease in babies since their bodies do not yet produce stomach acid to kill the bacteria. Since the baby’s digestive tract and immune system is not fully developed, honey borne illness, even though rare, can prove fatal.

It is also not recommended to give babies sweets because it usually leads to a life long sweet tooth.

Clostridium bacteria that cause infant botulism usually thrive in soil and dust. However, they can also contaminate certain foods — honey in particular.

*Not sure why people are giving thumbs down to all the boulism answers. They are the correct ones. Everyone has provided a link to prove so.

Honey can cause botulism in infants. As there is no nutritional value to honey, there is no real need to put your baby at risk for a fatal disease. Check out the link it has the full facts.

Babies intestines can't handle it b/c there can be botulism in honey (although usually only in raw honey) and babies can die from it where as adults will only get sick or not even be affected.

Because it can raise the chance of allergies.

Because it's made from flower pollens, and pollen is allergenic. Infants under one year don't have all their natural antibodies working yet to fight off allergic reactions to pollens.

Because they could have an allergic reaction.