United States Department of Agriculture

Food and Nutrition Service

Southeast Region

 

Policy Memorandum 250.13-04:  Potential Health Hazards of Commodity Honey and Infant Botulism

 

This memorandum is a restatement of policy previously issued as Food Distribution Policy Memorandum 84-20 on August 14, 1984.  It has been revised with current information.

 

Infant botulismis a special form of botulism that only affects babies under one (1) year of age.  Infant botulism and honey have been definitively linked by both laboratory and epidemiological studies.

 

This type of botulism, first recognized in 1976, is caused by ingestion of C. botulinum spores which colonize and produce toxin in the intestinal tracts of infants.  Of the various potential environmental sources such as soil, cistern water, dust and foods, honey is the one dietary reservoir of C. botulinum spores thus far linked to infant botulism.  As the result of greater awareness by health officials, the number of botulism cases has increased since its recognition in 1976.  It is now internationally recognized, with cases being reported in more countries.

 

The Food and Nutrition Service (FNS) may distribute honey through several of its programs, includingthe Food Distribution Program, Commodity Supplemental Food Program, Food Distribution Program on Indian Reservations, and The Emergency Food Assistance Program.  Some of the potential users of commodity honey in these programs are infants under 1 year of age and, therefore, are susceptible to this form of botulism.

 

Although the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not require a warning statement on the label, we believe that it is wise to alert State agencies and local outlets of the potential danger to infants.  Additional information can be obtained through the Commodity Fact Sheets available on the Internet, and from the FDA.