TikTok Cold Remedy Sparks Safety Concerns

The report urges caution regarding the homemade garlic-in-honey fermentation recipe circulating on social media, as it may create conditions conducive to the growth of Clostridium botulinum bacteria. This rare and serious disease can attack the nervous system, causing muscle weakness, breathing difficulties, paralysis, and posing a life-threatening risk—especially when it develops in a low-oxygen, humid environment, as is the case with garlic-honey mixtures. It is worth noting that botulism is uncommon; however, its danger increases in infants under one year old, because their intestinal microbiomes are still immature. Therefore, authorities advise against giving raw honey to young children. In adults, immunity is often built up thanks to a developed immune system, but consuming garlic-in-honey mixtures without ensuring rapid acidification may allow the spores of Clostridium botulinum to grow and produce toxins.