Do not feed honey to children under 1 year old
Original: eternity4719 · source details
Original author: eternity4719 · Chinese source: · English adaptation: parveen0029. Translation and grade notes ↗
Bibliographic titles are retained in their original language.
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In plain terms
Never give honey to babies under 1 year of age. This includes honey water, honey mixed into baby food, and any baked goods containing honey. Honey can contain bacteria that cause botulism. An adult’s gut microbiome is able to keep these bacteria in check, but a baby’s cannot. The same rule applies to homemade pickled foods and fermented products.
This guide's cartoon · show illustration
Enlarge illustrationOriginal illustration with Chinese lettering; the English dialogue is below. Humour is a reading aid, not evidence.
English dialogue
- Whose advice do we follow?
- Find a reliable source first.
Cost: what it takes
No cost involved
Benefit: what the source reports
According to the Chinese CDC, “Do not feed honey to children under 1 year of age” because “honey may contain bacteria that cause botulism.” An adult’s gut microbiome can suppress these bacterial spores — the dormant form of the bacteria — while a baby’s cannot.
Conditions, limits and disagreements
Foods and drinks to avoid include honey water, honey mixed into baby food, and any pastries containing honey. Likewise, homemade pickled foods and fermented products should not be given to infants.
Original references
Original bibliographic titles and links are preserved; some titles are in Chinese.
US CDC. Preventing Botulism. https://www.cdc.gov/botulism/prevention/index.html
Medical, legal, financial and policy conditions vary by person, place and time. Policy material primarily concerns mainland China; check the cited document and current local requirements.