From Dr Jean M. Bradley
Sir, - The statement in Miss Clark's letter (
Letters, 3 August) that honey "is full of botulinum toxin, and
poisonous to babies", thus suggesting that the Revd Aidan Coleman's
"non-baptismal" blessing of a baby by administering a little honey
on the lip (
News, 20 July) is a dangerous practice, cannot go
unchallenged.
Among the NHS Guidelines to mothers
for weaning young babies is the suggestion that it is "best not to
give your child honey until they are one year old". This has been
interpreted as proscriptive.
In the UK, infant botulism is an
extremely rare disease: 13 cases, none fatal, were reported between
1975 and 2011; admittedly, the incidence is somewhat higher in some
other countries. It is caused by ingestion, from the environment or
from food, of the fairly ubitiquous spores of Clostridium
botulinum: two cases were associated with keeping terrapins as
pets. In most cases, the source was not identified. Until the
infant has developed a normal protective gut bacterial flora,
ingested spores can germinate in the child's intestine and there
produce a neurotoxin that, when absorbed from the gut, is
responsible for the condition.
It is utterly false and misleading to
state that honey is "full of botulinum toxin". Many of us would not
want to deprive our children or grandchildren totally of a small
amount of this natural, agreeable foodstuff, nor discourage, on
dubious health grounds, Mr Coleman's extension of liturgical
practice.
JEAN BRADLEY
Consultant microbiologist (retired)
East Coker, Hook Lane
Chichester PO20 3SR