Honey should never be given to children younger than one year of age

Honey should never be given to children younger than one year of age, as it may contain spores of a bacterium called Clostridium botulinum. While these spores are generally harmless to older children and adults, they can pose a significant risk to infants.

Infants' digestive systems are not fully developed, and their stomach acid may not be acidic enough to destroy the spores. When Clostridium botulinum spores survive and grow in an infant's intestines, they can produce a toxin that causes a rare but potentially life-threatening illness called infant botulism. Symptoms of infant botulism can include constipation, weak muscles, poor feeding, and difficulty breathing.

To protect infants from this risk, it's important for parents and caregivers to avoid giving honey or any honey-containing products to children under the age of one. Instead, it's recommended to feed infants age-appropriate and safe foods and follow pediatric guidelines for their nutrition. Once a child is over one year old, their digestive system is typically more mature and better equipped to handle any potential spores in honey.