Question

When working with parents of young children who are at risk of botulism, what is the most important instruction to give them to reduce this risk?

1) Wash hands thoroughly before handling food
2) Store food properly in the refrigerator
3) Avoid giving honey to children under one year old
4) Cook food at the right temperature

Answer 1

The most crucial instruction to reduce the risk of botulism in young children is to avoid giving honey to children under one year old, due to the potential presence of botulism bacteria.

Step-by-step explanation:

When working with parents of young children who are at risk of botulism, the most important instruction to give them to reduce this risk is to avoid giving honey to children under one year old. Honey can contain the bacteria that cause infant botulism. Since infants have immature digestive systems, they are not able to handle the spores found in honey, which can grow into bacteria that produce the toxin.

It is also essential to practice food safety by washing hands thoroughly, storing food properly in the refrigerator, and cooking food at the right temperature to kill bacteria. However, in the case of reducing the risk of botulism in young children, specifically avoiding honey is the critical measure.