Clostridium botulinum is a Gram-positive anaerobic spore-forming bacterium growing in the absence of oxygen. Clostridium botulinum is responsible for 4 epidemiologically different illnesses: foodborne, infant and wound botulism and another form which has not yet been given a specific classification. In case of foodborne botulism the contamination results from eating toxins produced in food products. In the case of infant botulism not the toxins but the spores of the bacterium end up in the bowels. As the intestinal flora of children up to 1 year old has not yet developed completely, the spores may germinate, as a result of which toxins may be produced in the bowels. This can have very serious consequences.

In some countries (e.g. England) the label mentions that honey is not suited for children under 1 year of age.This is not yet the case in Belgium.Since 24/01/01, Meli has been checking all raw materials for the presence of sulphite-reducing anaerobics in an external lab. Clostridium Botulinum may occur in honey and can possibly cause infant botulism.

Clostridium botulinum belongs to these anaerobic bacteria. The standard is set to less than 1/g. If the test on sulphite-reducing anaerobics is higher than this 1/g, an additional analysis will be carried out on Clostridium botulinum itself.  For this bacterium the standard is less than 1/g as well.