Is Honey Safe During Pregnancy? (Updated 2026 Guide)
Updated March 25, 2026
The Answer
Yes, honey is safe to eat during pregnancy. Unlike infants, pregnant women can safely digest botulinum spores, and there are no established fetal risks from normal dietary consumption.
Honey is generally considered safe during pregnancy with no restrictions from major health organizations including the FDA and ACOG. While honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores that pose a risk to infants under 12 months, the adult digestive system can neutralize these spores. Multiple studies also show honey has beneficial effects for wound healing after cesarean sections and episiotomies.
Pregnancy Safe is 100% independent and research driven. No companies pay to promote or sponsor products.
✓ What's Safe
- • Pure honey from reputable brands like Kirkland Signature, Nature Nate's, or Local Hive
- • Both raw and pasteurized honey are safe during pregnancy
- • Honey labeled as organic or unfiltered is fine to consume
- • Use honey as a natural sweetener in tea or as a cough remedy
- • Moderate consumption of 1-2 tablespoons per day is typical
✗ What to Avoid
- • Honey products with added high fructose corn syrup or artificial sweeteners
- • Honey based supplements containing propolis or bee pollen if you have allergies
- • Excessive honey consumption if you have gestational diabetes
- • Honey products with added herbal ingredients like elderberry or licorice without consulting your doctor
Most Common Ingredients in Honey Products
We analyzed 2,627 honey products. Here are the most common ingredients, ranked by how often they appear:
Ingredients to Watch Out For in Honey
These are the most common flagged ingredients across 2,627 honey products we analyzed.
bee propolis extract
CAUTION
Bee propolis extract is a bee derived resinous substance used in supplements for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Lacks human pregnancy safety data and some formulations have shown toxicity in animal studies.
Found in 7 of 2,627 products (0%)
high fructose corn syrup
CAUTION
High fructose corn syrup is a sweetener derived from corn starch and widely used in processed foods and beverages. Has been associated with placental insufficiency, fetal growth restriction, and metabolic programming of offspring in animal studies, and with gestational diabetes and preeclampsia in epidemiological studies of humans.
Found in 5 of 2,627 products (0%)
organic elderberry
CAUTION
Organic elderberry is an herbal supplement for immune support. May interfere with pregnancy immune function and raw berries contain toxic compounds.
Found in 4 of 2,627 products (0%)
propolis
CAUTION
Propolis is a bee derived resinous substance used in supplements for its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties. Lacks human pregnancy safety data and some formulations have shown toxicity in animal studies.
Found in 4 of 2,627 products (0%)
blue 1
CAUTION
Blue 1 is a synthetic blue food coloring. Has limited human pregnancy data with possible neurobehavioral effects in animal studies.
Found in 3 of 2,627 products (0%)
elderberry juice concentrate
CAUTION
Elderberry juice concentrate is an herbal supplement for immune support. May interfere with pregnancy immune function and raw berries contain toxic compounds.
Found in 3 of 2,627 products (0%)
licorice
CAUTION
Licorice is an herb used in teas and traditional remedies. Is associated with lower IQ and attention problems in children when consumed heavily during pregnancy.
Found in 3 of 2,627 products (0%)
red 40
CAUTION
Red 40 is a synthetic red food coloring. May affect neurobehavioral development based on animal studies at high doses.
Found in 3 of 2,627 products (0%)
Honey Products We've Analyzed
We graded 2,627 honey products for pregnancy safety. 2,537 received an A grade.
Pregnancy Safe Honey Products
We found 2,537 pregnancy safe options. Here are some top picks.
| Grade | Product | Brand |
|---|---|---|
| A | Raw & Unfiltered Honey | Kirkland Signature |
| A | Organic Clear Honey | — |
| A | Pure Premium Honey | Member'S Mark |
| A | Wildflower Honey | Kirkland Signature |
| A | Raw Unfiltered Honey | Kirkland Signature |
Your Questions Answered
Can pregnant women eat honey?
Yes, pregnant women can safely eat honey. The concern about botulism that applies to infants does not apply to adults, including pregnant women. Your mature digestive system can handle the botulinum spores that may be present in honey. Major health organizations like the FDA and ACOG do not restrict honey consumption during pregnancy.
What are the risks of honey during pregnancy?
For most pregnant women, there are no significant risks from eating honey in normal amounts. The main considerations are for women with gestational diabetes, who should limit all sugars including honey due to its high sugar content. Women with bee allergies should also be cautious. The botulism risk that exists for infants does not apply to pregnant women because adult intestines can prevent the spores from growing.
Is raw honey safe during pregnancy?
Yes, raw honey is safe during pregnancy. While raw honey is unpasteurized and may contain botulinum spores, pregnant women's digestive systems can neutralize these spores just like with pasteurized honey. The pasteurization process doesn't eliminate botulinum spores anyway, so there's no safety advantage to choosing pasteurized over raw honey during pregnancy.
How much honey can you have when pregnant?
There's no strict limit on honey during pregnancy for healthy women. Most experts suggest moderate consumption as part of a balanced diet, typically 1-2 tablespoons per day. However, if you have gestational diabetes or are watching your sugar intake, you should limit honey like any other sweetener. Honey contains about 64 calories and 17 grams of sugar per tablespoon.
Can you eat honey if you have gestational diabetes?
If you have gestational diabetes, you should limit honey consumption just like other sugars. While honey has a slightly lower glycemic index than table sugar, it still raises blood sugar levels. Consult your healthcare provider about how much honey fits into your gestational diabetes meal plan. Some women may need to avoid it entirely while others can have small amounts.
How Do We Score Products for Pregnancy Safety?
We analyze each product's ingredients and category to flag known risks and provide cautionary notices for general category safety concerns.
A - Safe
Excellent choice! All ingredients are considered safe during pregnancy.
What to do: Use with confidence.
B - Likely Safe
Pretty much safe with very minimal risk. Some ingredients may have limited pregnancy studies, but no significant safety concerns have been identified.
What to do: Use with confidence.
C - Limit
Contains ingredients with some pregnancy considerations. Research shows these ingredients may have limited safety data, potential for minor hormonal effects, or require caution based on animal studies.
What to do: Use sparingly and consider safer alternatives when available.
D - Caution
Similar to C grade but contains multiple cautionary ingredients. The combination increases overall concern.
What to do: Try to avoid if that makes you feel better. If you've already used it, no need to panic.
F - Avoid
Contains ingredients with established risks during pregnancy. Research shows these can cause birth defects, developmental harm, or serious maternal complications.
What to do: Do not use during pregnancy. If you've already used it, don't worry - contact your OBGYN if concerned.
References
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40783823/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38515382/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/38155514/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36889342/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/36928524/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35379306/
- https://thrivemarket.com/blog/heres a-convincing reason to avoid high fructose corn syrup during pregnancy
- https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/nutrition/articles/10.3389/fnut.2023.1203063/full
- https://www.nature.com/articles/srep25091
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0955286322000225
- https://www.orlandohealth.com/content hub/why you should not consume high fructose corn syrup if you are pregnant/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7441786/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/35123000/
- https://diabetesjournals.org/care/article/32/12/2314/25900/Dietary Risk Factors for Gestational Diabetes
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0002916522034220
- https://medicine.washu.edu/news/high fructose diet pregnancy may harm placenta restrict fetal growth/
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6685737/
- https://www.cdc.gov/maternal infant health/pregnancy diabetes/index.html
- https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5491864/
- https://physoc.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1113/JP274066
