Honey and the under ones - a question

[EllieG]

I know it shouldn't be given, but was wondering. I made a lamb thing today that I thought my 8 month old would love, so I mushed up some and stuck in a pot to give to her tomorrow. Have just realised I put honey in it, so will not give it but, does anyone know if the concerns about botulism are the same with honey that is cooked in things, or just honey given raw (as it were)?

I would imagine it is the same as raw honey as botulism spores are not killed by cooking unless at VERY night temperatures.

TBH I have no idea how resilient botulism is to high temperatures, but as I have never come across one person who has suffered from botulism as a result of ingesting a miniscule amount of honey, I would give it to your lo as it sounds lovely

I thought might be the case. Am glad I remembered I put honey in it before she had any.

It is lovely Iwish, that is the sad thing. But is quite a bit of honey, so I think I would start to get paranoid about her being poorly, so would take all the fun out of it.

Interesting reading

I meant very high temperatures why did I write night

You have to look at probability with these things so a tiny bit of honey in a meal is probably going to be ok, now if it were me I would probably still give it as it's an ingredient and a small one so chances are it will be fine it's not like you are allowing her to lick honey off a spoon.

I'm a food microbiologist BTW and when we were looking at botulism controls we didn't bother if it was an ingredient under 1% because of the dilution effect.

This has 3 tablespoons of honey in though. That might be more than 1%?

Interesting article there though. The whole weaning thing is a bit of a nightmare sometimes - my Mum said to me pensively today 'You know, it's a wonder you survived, considering that I didn't know about all these foods I shouldn't have been giving you!'

Honestly I think it will be fine, that article says there has never been a case with British honey and it refers more to babies under 6 months anyway not like your DD whose gut is probably a lot more mature.

Maybe I will give her a spoon of it and see if she goes floppy. Or just wait a few months and make it again.