The can is hazardous waste and can kill just by breathing the air released when you open it. Other people say that you should throw out the syrup and buy a fresh bottle. ... Making maple syrup is a time-honored tradition in many parts of Wisconsin, and it is as much of an art as a science. It’s honey they can’t have as it can cause infant botulism. Infant botulism has been associated with raw honey. In fact, boiling is one of the ways that botulism spores are killed. However, even the spores give out eventually. However, maple syrup may still be a concern because of its sugar content. Maple syrup: It’s got minerals and antioxidants, but maple syrup is mostly sucrose, so it’s slightly less harmful than table sugar. You may try using maple syrup as a substitute in recipes. Pure maple syrup is taken directly from the sap of a maple tree and because the syrup is boiled, the risk of botulism is very low. When honey and maple syrup contains the bacteria, it can lead to a detrimental condition called Infant Botulism. If you get them up to 240 degree F/115 degrees C and keep them there long enough, the spores will die. Baking substitution It is a rare but severe disease that can attack the nervous system and cause paralysis to the body or muscle weakening. You can help reduce the risk of this disease by only feeding honey to healthy children over one year of age. Household cooking temperatures on the stove or oven won't necessarily destroy the botulism spores. I’ve heard that the mold that sometimes grows on the surface of maple syrup isn’t harmful, and that one can simply pour the syrup through a coffee filter to remove it. One important warning: in rare cases, honey can be contaminated with a small amount of botulism, so it should not be given to infants, who do not yet have a fully functional immune system. Maple syrup is also an option, if your pediatrician agrees. You’re fine with maple syrup. 2 Botulism outbreak linked to home-canned peas. Opt for fruit juice concentrate or fruit purees if you would like to use a liquid sweetener to bake for your baby. In Canada, honey is the only food that has been linked to infant botulism. Agave nectar is another option that is similar to honey without the risk of infant botulism. The risk of botulism from maple syrup is virtually non-existent and maple syrup is considered safe. Published on April 2, 2019 by BARBARA H INGHAM. Avoid giving raw honey — even a tiny taste — to babies under age 1. The spores are not known to thrive under these boiling conditions. The slightest bit of outward curve means botulism. 2 . Do it … can create dangerous, Botulism-friendly environments. This means that it doesn’t have the same potential risks as honey. I, for one, have a bottle of grade A maple syrup that’s opened for at least a few months now that sits in a kitchen cabinet and the syrup is perfectly fine. Opened maple syrup can grow mold at room temperature. Don’t worry – bring the syrup to a slight boil, skim the surface, and pour into a clean container and refrigerate. Truth be told, often you can get away with keeping opened maple syrup at room temperature. Infant botulism is a rare but serious form of food poisoning that can affect babies up to a year old. Infant botulism can also occur if a baby eats food in which C. botulinum spores have multiplied and produced the toxin. In the USA, commercial guidelines for most canned low-acid food require a "botulism cook" at 250 degrees F/121 degrees C for three minutes, Home-canned food can also become contaminated with C. botulinum spores. The method of making syrup from the maple sap involves intense boiling, for prolonged periods of time.