Information on infants botulism

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Botulism spores are found everywhere in nature. They are not harmful

themselves, but in the absence of oxygen (anaerobic conditions), the spores

germinate

and the resultant bacteria produce a powerful poison. This is the reason all

canned vegetables are heated prior to packing.

Raw agricultural crops, however, are never heated. And many foods, even if

heated or processed, once exposed to the air would be susceptible to

re-infestation by botulism spores. Cumulative research to date on infant

botulism,

therefore, suggests that there is an unknown risk factor in feeding any raw

agricultural product, including honey, to infants under one year of age.