From the NATIONAL HONEY BOARD
Note to Parents:
Your Baby's Tummy isn't Ready for Honey!
DO NOT add honey to your baby's food, water or formula.
DO NOT dip your baby's pacifier in honey.
DO NOT give your baby honey as medicine.
Honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores that can cause infant botulism - a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system of young babies (under one year of age). C. botulinum spores are present throughout the environment and may be found in dust, soil and improperly canned foods. Adults and children over one year of age are routinely exposed to, but not normally affected by, C. botulinum spores.
The following are symptoms of infant botulism.
Call your doctor immediately if your baby:
**is too weak to suck or cry as usual
**does not want to feed or cannot swallow
**has weak arms, legs or neck
**suffers from constipation for more than three days
"THE SAFETY OF HONEY AS A FOOD FOR OLDER CHILDREN AND ADULTS REMAINS UNQUESTIONED"
- Center for Disease Control*
