Is Honey Safe During Pregnancy?
Published June 29, 2026 | By SafeMama Editorial Team | Editorial policy
The short answer: Yes. Honey is considered safe to eat during pregnancy. Neither the NHS nor ACOG lists honey among foods to avoid in pregnancy. The famous "don't give honey to babies" rule does not apply to you.
Why infants can't have honey but pregnant people can
Honey can occasionally contain spores of Clostridium botulinum. In babies under 12 months, the immature gut can allow those spores to germinate and produce toxin — that's infant botulism, which is why pediatricians warn against honey for infants.
An adult digestive system — including yours during pregnancy — has the acidic environment and microbial diversity to handle any trace spores. The spores also do not cross the placenta, so they cannot reach the baby in your womb.
Raw honey, manuka honey, pasteurised honey
- Pasteurised honey — safe
- Raw honey — safe for pregnant adults (the unpasteurised-juice and unpasteurised-dairy warning does not extend to honey)
- Manuka honey — safe; nothing pregnancy-specific to avoid
- Honey-flavoured supplements and lozenges — read the rest of the ingredient list; honey itself is fine
Sugar and portion considerations
Honey is still sugar — about 17 g of carbohydrate per tablespoon. Pregnancy can affect blood-sugar handling and increase the risk of gestational diabetes, so the usual reasonable-portion guidance applies. Use it like any other sweetener, not as a free pour.
Honey for sore throat and cough in pregnancy
Warm water with honey and lemon is a commonly used home remedy for sore throat in pregnancy. There is no pregnancy-specific reason to avoid it. If symptoms persist or you have a fever, contact your provider — fever in pregnancy is worth treating.
Common questions
Will honey reach my baby?
No, not in any meaningful way. Botulism spores do not cross the placenta. Macro-nutrients (sugars) from honey do reach the baby in the same way as any food.
Should I avoid honey if I have gestational diabetes?
Treat honey like any other sugar in a gestational-diabetes plan. Follow your provider's carbohydrate guidance — honey isn't worse than table sugar, but it's not better either.
When does the honey rule start for my baby?
After your baby is born, avoid giving them honey until their first birthday — no honey-water, no honey on pacifiers, no honey-sweetened anything.
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