Why should honey not be fed to infants?

Honey should not be fed to infants primarily because it poses a risk of botulism, a rare but serious illness caused by the bacteria Clostridium botulinum. Infants, especially those under one year old, have immature digestive systems that are not fully capable of handling the spores that may be present in honey. If ingested, these spores can germinate in the infant's intestines and produce toxins that can lead to botulism, resulting in potentially severe health complications.

Botulism in infants can manifest as constipation, weakness, poor feeding, and lethargy, which can require immediate medical attention. This risk is not evident in older children and adults, whose digestive systems are more mature and can handle small amounts of these spores without developing illness.

Other options such as potential allergies, high sugar content, and calorie count do not present the same immediate and severe health risk to infants as botulism does. These factors may be relevant in broader nutritional considerations but do not justify the specific prohibition against honey for infants in the same critical manner.