Editor’s note: “Behind the News” is the product of Sun staff assisted by the Sun’s AI lab, which includes a variety of tools such as Anthropic’s Claude, Perplexity AI, Google Gemini and ChatGPT.

Infant botulism is a rare but serious condition caused by a toxin produced by the bacterium Clostridium botulinum in a baby’s intestines. The illness occurs when a baby ingests C. botulinum spores, which then germinate in the gut and produce neurotoxin. This toxin interferes with nerve function, causing muscle weakness and potentially life-threatening paralysis. Babies are at greatest risk under 6 months, but all infants under 12 months are vulnerable due to immature digestive systems.[1]

The bacteria exist naturally in dust, soil and certain foods — notably honey, which must never be given to in

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