87.5k views
0 votes
Which of the following foods should never be given to an infant because of the possibility of botulism?

1) canned peas
2) pears
3) honey
4) corn syrup

1 Answer

1 vote

Final answer:

Honey should never be given to infants because it can contain bacteria causing botulism, which infants are highly susceptible to (3). Better food sterilization and canning processes have reduced botulism cases, but the bacteria can still be present in natural products such as honey.

Step-by-step explanation:

The food that should never be given to an infant because of the possibility of botulism is honey. Honey can contain the bacteria that cause infant botulism and is unsafe for children less than 12 months old.

Although botulism can be caused by improperly canned or underheated foods, and while Clostridium botulinum is commonly associated with non-acidic canned foods, homemade pickles, and processed meats and sausages, better sterilization and canning procedures have greatly reduced its incidence. However, since honey is a natural product that may contain these bacteria, it should be avoided entirely for infants.

User Misha Ustinov
by
8.2k points
Welcome to QAmmunity.org, where you can ask questions and receive answers from other members of our community.