Food Safety Focus (226th Issue, May 2025) – Article 3

Honey and Infant Botulism

Recently, a case of infant botulism was reported in Mainland China, where a seven-month-old infant accidentally licked a spoon that had been used to feed honey to an older sister. The infant suffered from limb weakness and drooping eyelids and was hospitalised for emergency treatment.

Infant botulism is a rare type of botulism caused by the ingestion of Clostridium botulinum spores that germinate, grow and release toxins in the intestine of infants. Infant botulism rarely occurs to older persons, as their more developed defences prevent germination and growth of Clostridium botulinum in the intestines. Symptoms of infant botulism include constipation, flattened facial expressions, weak sucking, weak crying, reduced movement and muscle weakness. The symptoms can be mild in some cases but can be severe and even fatal in others. Do not give honey of any kind to infants under one year old.