Irish parents warned against giving babies popular food amid 'fatal' condition risk

Irish parents have been warned against giving their babies honey amid fears they could contract botulism, a rare from of infant food poisoning that can be fatal.

The Food Safety Authority of Ireland issue the warning and advice on their website, warning that "infant botulism is a very rare neuroparalytic disease that can occur in babies under one year of age."

They explain that it occurs when an infant swallows spores of a particular bacterium (Clostridium botulinum) which grow and produce a neurotoxin in the infant’s intestine.

"In most adults and older children, this would not happen because the natural defences which have developed in their intestines would prevent the growth of these spores. In some infants, these defences have not yet developed, and so this gives the infection a chance to get a foothold and produce the toxin," the FSAI added.

Honey can be contaminated with these Clostridium botulinum spores and "is the only food implicated in infant botulism," a statement on their website read.

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"International surveys have shown approximately 2 to 7% of honey samples contain C. botulinum spores. Parents and caregivers should not give honey to infants less than one year of age. Honey should never be added to baby food, given to sooth a cough or used on a soother to quiet a fussy or colicky baby. Concerned parents should discuss alternative methods for quieting their baby with their public health nurse or family doctor."

To date, one case of infant botulism has been reported in Ireland. Exposure to turtles or to turtle feed was identified as being the most likely source because reptiles can carry harmful bacteria.

The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) recommends that they should not be kept as pets in households where there are children under the age of five.

"In addition to the Irish case, in 2010, three cases were reported in the United Kingdom, which is highly unusual for this rare disease. All three cases had a history of being given honey," the FSAI explained.

The symptoms of infant botulism begin with "constipation, followed by lethargy, listlessness, poor feeding, difficulty swallowing, drooling, loss of head control and progressive weakness.

"The lack of energy and coordination may lead to the infant appearing 'floppy' and 'loose-limbed'. In severe cases paralysis and difficulty breathing may occur, which can be fatal," the explainer read.

In terms of treatment, the FSAI says "good supportive care in a hospital is the mainstay of treatment, which involves tackling the symptoms. The respiratory failure and paralysis that occur with severe botulism require the infant to be kept breathing on a ventilator for maybe several weeks. The vast majority of patients recover without long-term consequences."