—Joshua Landis, Kansas City, Kansas Honey has an unusual composition. As you know, it starts with plant nectar before the bees work their magic and the factors that retard spoilage come into play. First, most of the water is evaporated. This low water content dehydrates bacteria. Plus, the resultant honey contains acid, including hydrogen peroxide. The acid also inhibits bacterial growth. And if honey ever crystallizes, you can just set the opened jar in warm water for a few minutes. One word of caution: Honey must never be fed to babies. Their immune systems are immature, and any botulism spores may be toxic.
