Honey a No-No for Babies

LONDONThe Food Standards Agency (FSA) issued a statement reminding parents not to feed honey to babies less than 1-year old because of the risk of developing infant botulism. The statement was the result of a 15-week old baby contracting the illness after ingesting honey.

While there have only been 11 confirmed cases of infant botulism in the past 30 years, three cases occurred in the past year and all have had possible links to honey. Honey is safe for children over age 1 year, but a younger babys gut is not sufficiently developed to be able to fight off the botulism bacteria.

For around the first six months babies only need breast milk or infant formula and although it might be tempting to give honey to your baby to ease coughs, infant botulism is a very serious illness and it simply isnt worth the risk, said Sam Montel, FSA nutritionist.