Officials of the Tokyo Metropolitan Government revealed on April 7 that a six-month old boy in Adachi ward, Tokyo, died due to infant botulism after his family fed him honey.
The Government of Japan, Tokyo Metropolitan Government and the honey industry have been renewing their basic statement warning that honey should not be given to babies younger than one year.
Japan Apiculture Association organized by about 3000 beekeepers in the country announced a strong message on its website on April 10, urging that consumers should never give honey to babies younger than one year.
The Apiculture Association has been guiding its members to put the warning message on the label of their honey jars.
The Association plans to further strengthen its publicity activities for making consumers well informed on the warning.
On April 7, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare asked prefectural governments and municipalities providing healthcare services to get consumers and honey-related companies warned against feeding honey to infants under the age of 12 months old.
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government began to send its warming message on its website as well as order staff members of its health centers to promote the publicity.