/oss/taxonomy/term/833/all en /oss/article/general-science/babies-botulism-and-honey <div>The young mother was surprised by the doctor’s question. “What does your little girl eat for breakfast?” “Only hot oatmeal with milk,” she answered. “Does she put any sugar on it?” the doctor queried. Now the lady became indignant. “We eat only whole, natural foods. No meat, no processed food, no sugar. Sugar is poison. We use only natural honey on the oatmeal.” And with those words, she confirmed the doctor’s suspicion. The little girl’s baby brother who had been brought to the hospital suffering from some mysterious ailment had botulism poisoning!</div> <div> </div> Wed, 25 May 2022 10:00:00 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 9118 at /oss /oss/article/health-you-asked/you-asked-it-true-infants-should-not-be-given-honey <p>Problems can arise if infants under a year old, or patients who are immune-compromised, ingest honey that contains spores of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. These spores are ubiquitous in soil and can be transferred to beehives by bees as they accumulate dust during foraging for pollen and nectar. Under the right conditions, such as the low oxygen environment found in the digestive tract, the spores can germinate into vegetative bacteria that can grow and multiply. As they do, they produce a protein, botulin, the most toxic substance known. One microgram can be lethal to a human! </p> Thu, 03 Jan 2019 20:46:17 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 7516 at /oss /oss/article/history-you-asked/what-saltpeter-used-and-it-true-it-reduces-certain-carnal-urges <p>The second part of the question is easy to answer.  “Saltpetre,” (the term refers either to potassium or sodium nitrate) has no effect on carnal urges.  The story that this chemical was put into soldiers’ food to decrease their sex drive is a total myth.</p> Fri, 04 Jan 2013 19:35:16 +0000 Joe Schwarcz PhD 1851 at /oss