Can You Have Honey While Pregnant?
Yes — honey is safe in pregnancy. The botulism warning is for babies under 1, not for you.
The full answer
People mix up two pieces of advice. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism — but that risk is specific to babies under 12 months, whose gut can't yet handle the spores. An adult's stomach acid and gut bacteria normally stop the spores from growing, so the warning doesn't apply to you during pregnancy. So honey in your tea, on toast, or in cooking is completely fine in pregnancy. (You'll just need to remember not to give honey to your baby until after their first birthday.) The only general note is that honey is sugar, so account for it if you have gestational diabetes.
How to have honey safely
- Enjoy in tea, on toast, in baking, or to soothe a sore throat
- Count the sugar if you're managing gestational diabetes
- Remember: no honey for your baby until 12 months old
When to avoid: No need to avoid it during pregnancy. The under-1 rule applies only after the baby is born.
Honey by trimester
| Stage | What changes |
|---|---|
| First trimester | Honey is fine for pregnant adults. The botulism warning that people half-remember applies to infants under twelve months, not to pregnancy — an adult digestive system handles the spores without difficulty. |
| Second trimester | Unchanged. A warm honey and lemon drink is a useful option for a sore throat, since some cough and cold medicines aren't suitable in pregnancy. |
| Third trimester | Still fine, and worth remembering as a sore-throat option late on. The infant advice becomes relevant after the baby arrives, not before. |
Common questions about honey in pregnancy
Is honey safe during pregnancy?
Yes. The concern about honey is specifically about babies under one year old, whose digestive systems can't handle botulism spores. Pregnancy doesn't change that — your own adult digestion stops the spores from growing.
What about raw or unpasteurised honey?
Raw honey is generally considered fine for adults in pregnancy for the same reason. Heat-treated honey isn't meaningfully different here — the spores survive it.
When does the baby rule start applying?
After birth — no honey before twelve months of age, including in food or on a dummy. It's worth knowing now so it isn't a surprise later.
The general rules on listeria, mercury, caffeine and alcohol are in our pregnancy safety guide, and you can track your pregnancy with the How Far Along Am I? calculator and the week-by-week guide.
Frequently asked questions
- Can you have honey while pregnant?
- Yes — honey is safe in pregnancy. The botulism warning is for babies under 1, not for you. People mix up two pieces of advice. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism — but that risk is specific to babies under 12 months, whose gut can't yet handle the spores. An adult's stomach acid and gut bacteria normally stop the spores from growing, so the warning doesn't apply to you during pregnancy. So honey in your tea, on toast, or in cooking is completely fine in pregnancy. (You'll just need to remember not to give honey to your baby until after their first birthday.) The only general note is that honey is sugar, so account for it if you have gestational diabetes.
- Why is honey considered safe in pregnancy?
- People mix up two pieces of advice. Honey can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infant botulism — but that risk is specific to babies under 12 months, whose gut can't yet handle the spores. An adult's stomach acid and gut bacteria normally stop the spores from growing, so the warning doesn't apply to you during pregnancy. So honey in your tea, on toast, or in cooking is completely fine in pregnancy. (You'll just need to remember not to give honey to your baby until after their first birthday.) The only general note is that honey is sugar, so account for it if you have gestational diabetes.
- When should I avoid honey during pregnancy?
- No need to avoid it during pregnancy. The under-1 rule applies only after the baby is born.
Sources
This answer was checked against the following public guidance. Advice can differ between countries; your midwife, doctor or pharmacist can apply it to you.