Why is Honey 'unsuitable for children under 12 months'?!

Why is Honey 'unsuitable for children under 12 months'?

I have read that a beehive is a virtually sterile environment. Why then is honey unsuitable for babies? All types of honey I have bought have this warning.

Babies under a year of age are not to be fed RAW honey, definitely. (Raw honey is defined as
honey that has not been cooked.) Raw honey is believed to be a risk for infant botulism, which is a rare but very serious disease which causes severe muscle weakness including the inability to cry or suck, a floppy neck, constipation, and rarely death. This disorder has never been reported in a baby over a year of age. Many of the babies who developed this disorder had never even been fed honey, by the way, but botulinum spores have been found in honey, so it's important to avoid this possible source. Other cases may have been caused by spores in other foods or in soil, or some as yet unrecognized source. Babies are thought to be at greater risk from these spores because their gastrointestinal tracts have lower acidity, which can allow the spores to survive and grow. There may be other factors involving their immune system that contribute to their risk, as well. There is speculation recently that as many as five to ten percent of so-called SIDS deaths may have been undetected infant botulism!

Hope this answers your question!