As a new parent, you want to do the best for your baby. You\nmay feel a push towards products that are labelled \u201cnatural\u201d, \u201corganic\u201d, and \u201cnon-GMO\u201d,\nbut when it comes to sugars and sweeteners, a natural alternative might not be\nbest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In Canada, honey has been linked to cases of infantile\nbotulism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Infantile botulism is a rare, but serious form of foodborne illness (food poisoning) that can affect infants up to one year old. During the first year, babies\u2019 immune systems are still developing, and there aren\u2019t enough beneficial bacteria in their little bodies to protect them from major threats.\u00a0 <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Infantile botulism is caused by toxins created by Clostridium botulinum <\/em>bacteria, who\u2019s spores can sometimes be found in both pasteurized and unpasteurized honey. In a healthy adult body, Clostridium<\/em> botulinum<\/em> spores have a hard time finding a space to grow, but the weak immune systems of infants cannot protect them just yet. If Clostridium<\/em> botulinum<\/em> spores find a place to grow in the infant\u2019s intestine, the bacteria will emerge from their spores and begin creating toxins as they grow. These toxins cause botulism, and in an infant body, the amount needed to cause illness is minute.<\/p>\n\n\n\n After their first birthday, your child\u2019s immune system will be developed enough to help protect against Clostridium<\/em> spores. The risk of infantile botulism decreases after age 1. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Clostridium botulinum<\/em> are normal bacteria commonly found in the soil that create a toxin called botulinum as they grow. Unfortunately, botulinum toxin does not change how food looks, smells, or tastes. There is no way to know whether the food is infected or not by using your senses, and while cooking to high temperatures can kill a great deal of illness-causing microbes, it will not kill spores. Even pasteurized honey may have Clostridium botulinum<\/em> spores that survived undetected in it. The bacteria won\u2019t cause problems unless they can get into a good environment for growth (like inside your baby\u2019s body) and come out of their spore shells to grow.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Contact your doctor immediately if your baby shows any of these symptoms of infantile botulism:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Without immediate treatment, the toxins can cause paralysis and ultimately death.<\/p>\n\n\n\n With proper treatment, mortality rate is 5-10% in Canada. Read more about infant botulism<\/a> and Clostridium Botulinum<\/a> on the Government of Canada website.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" As a new parent, you want to do the best for your baby. You may feel a push towards products that are labelled \u201cnatural\u201d, \u201corganic\u201d, and \u201cnon-GMO\u201d, but when it comes to sugars and sweeteners, a natural alternative might not be best. In Canada, honey has been linked to cases of infantile botulism. Infantile botulism […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":461,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[10],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-460","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-food-safety"],"yoast_head":"\nImmunity builds with age<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Clostridium botulinum<\/em><\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Symptoms<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
To Reduce the Risk<\/h2>\n\n\n\n