Can You Eat Honey When Pregnant?
Written by Jordan Morley · Reviewed against NHS foods-to-avoid guidance · Last updated 28 October 2026
Yes — honey is safe for you to eat during pregnancy. The 'no honey under 1' rule is about babies eating honey, not pregnant women.
Why is honey safe in pregnancy?
Honey is not on the NHS foods-to-avoid list for pregnancy. The 'no honey' rule is for babies: the NHS says honey should be completely avoided until a baby is 12 months old because it contains bacteria that can lead to infant botulism. We found no UK source that applies that rule to pregnant adults; US articles say an adult's digestive system deals with the bacteria. Honey is a free sugar, though, so it counts toward the NHS limit of 30g of free sugars a day for adults.
You can also check the calorie content of honey alongside its safety information. Also check medication safety during pregnancy if you're managing any conditions.
What the UK sources say, and what they do not
Honey is one of the few pregnancy questions where the official UK pages are silent rather than strict. We opened the NHS foods-to-avoid page (last reviewed 15 June 2026) and the NHS Wales page (updated 23 July 2026) and neither mentions honey. The only UK official honey warning we found is about babies.
| Question | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Is honey on the NHS pregnancy 'avoid' list? | No. Honey is not mentioned on the NHS or NHS Wales foods-to-avoid pages | NHS; NHS Wales 111 |
| Why does everyone say 'no honey'? | 'Honey should be completely avoided until your baby is 12 months old.' It 'contains bacteria that can lead to infant botulism' | NHS weaning page (modified 30 Sep 2025) |
| Does the baby rule apply to pregnant adults? | We found no UK source that says so. Healthline (June 2024) says the adult digestive system can destroy the bacteria that causes botulism | Healthline (US) |
| Is there a pregnancy limit? | None from the NHS. Healthline says there is no specific guideline for how much honey is safe in pregnancy | NHS; Healthline |
We do not repeat the common claim that botulism spores 'do not cross the placenta', because we could not source it. The Bump (US, 2024) says research suggests that if a pregnant person did get botulism from honey it is unlikely to reach the baby, but it does not name the studies.
Raw, runny, set, manuka: does the type matter?
Rival articles disagree on raw (unpasteurised) honey, and no UK regulator page we found settles it. The Bump quotes a midwife who calls raw honey the preferred honey in pregnancy for its antioxidants and an ob-gyn who advises avoiding it because of a small added botulism risk. Healthline says raw honey is safe and notes that spores can be present even in pasteurised honey, so heat treatment does not remove the spore question.
| Honey | What the sources say | Our reading |
|---|---|---|
| Supermarket runny or set honey (usually heat-treated) | Neither NHS page mentions it | Nothing to avoid on the UK lists |
| Raw or unpasteurised honey | Experts quoted by The Bump disagree; Healthline says safe | Not on any UK avoid list; if you want to be cautious, choose heat-treated honey (our suggestion) |
| Manuka honey | No pregnancy-specific rule found | Same position as other honey; see manuka honey |
| Honey in cooking, baking, tea | No rule found | No difference to the above |
| Honey for a baby (once born) | NHS: avoid until 12 months | Applies to feeding your baby, not to you |
Raw honey is a different question from raw milk or raw eggs: the NHS list restricts unpasteurised milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and ice cream because of listeria, but honey is not on that list.
The real limit is sugar
Honey is sugar. The NHS counts the sugars in honey and syrups as free sugars, and says adults should have no more than 30g of free sugars a day (about seven sugar cubes). Healthline gives 17g of carbohydrate in a tablespoon of honey, which is not exactly the same as sugar but is close for honey.
| Honey a day | Carbohydrate (Healthline: 17g per tablespoon) | Against 30g free sugars a day |
|---|---|---|
| 1 teaspoon (about a third of a tablespoon) | About 5-6g | About a fifth of the day |
| 1 tablespoon | 17g | More than half |
| 2 tablespoons | 34g | Over the limit before any other sugar |
Arithmetic ours. The Bump quotes a midwife suggesting 1 or 2 tablespoons a day at most; with other sugar in the day, 2 tablespoons alone exceeds the NHS free-sugar figure.
If you have gestational diabetes
The NHS says changes to your diet can help control your blood sugar and that you may be advised to eat starchy, low glycaemic index foods that release sugar slowly. It says to avoid sugary foods, though you do not need a completely sugar-free diet. Healthline says honey raises blood sugar in a similar way to other sugars and suggests pairing it with protein or fibre. Your dietitian's plan comes first: the NHS says you should be referred to one.
Sources checked
Everything in the sections above was checked against these pages on 28 October 2026.
- NHS: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (page last reviewed 15 June 2026) — no mention of honey; unpasteurised milk, cream, yoghurt, butter and ice cream; last reviewed 15 June 2026
- NHS Wales 111: Foods to avoid in pregnancy (last updated 23 July 2026) — no mention of honey, sugar or sweeteners; last updated 23 July 2026
- NHS: Food and drinks to avoid (weaning; published 2 August 2023, modified 30 September 2025) — honey completely avoided until baby is 12 months old; infant botulism
- NHS: How does sugar in our diet affect our health? (page last reviewed 19 May 2023) — free sugars include honey and syrups; adults no more than 30g a day
- NHS: Gestational diabetes, treatment (page last reviewed 8 December 2022) — diet to control blood sugar; avoid sugary foods; dietitian referral
- Healthline: Honey during pregnancy (12 June 2024) — rival (US): raw honey safe; adult digestion destroys botulism bacteria; spores in pasteurised honey; 17g carbohydrate per tablespoon; no specific guideline
- The Bump: Can you have honey while pregnant? (8 January 2024; modified April 2026) — rival (US): experts split on raw honey; one to two tablespoons suggested by a midwife; pasteurisation lowers botulism risk
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Check Price →Honey: the other answers on this site
| Question | Short answer (links to the full page) |
|---|---|
| Left out overnight | Yes — generally fine |
| Past the date on the label | Yes — best before is about quality |
Common questions
Can I eat honey when pregnant?
Yes. Honey is not on the NHS foods-to-avoid list for pregnancy. The NHS 'no honey' rule applies to babies under 12 months because of infant botulism.
Can I eat raw or unpasteurised honey when pregnant?
No UK avoid list mentions it. Healthline says raw honey is safe, but an ob-gyn quoted by The Bump advises avoiding it because of a small botulism risk. If you want to be cautious, choose heat-treated honey.
Can I eat manuka honey when pregnant?
We found no pregnancy rule for manuka honey, so the position is the same as for other honey. See our manuka honey page.
Is honey safe in pregnancy if botulism is a risk for babies?
The NHS rule is about feeding honey to a baby under 12 months. We found no UK source applying it to pregnant adults, and Healthline says adults' digestive systems can destroy the bacteria.
How much honey can I have when pregnant?
There is no NHS honey limit, but honey counts as free sugar and the NHS limit for adults is 30g of free sugars a day. A tablespoon is about 17g of carbohydrate (Healthline), so two tablespoons would pass 30g.
Can I have honey and lemon for a cold or sore throat when pregnant?
Healthline says honey can help soothe a sore throat when you have a cold. We found no NHS rule against it.
I have gestational diabetes. Should I avoid honey?
The NHS advises avoiding sugary foods without needing a sugar-free diet, and honey is a sugar. Ask your dietitian how it fits into your plan.
Related answers
Primary source: NHS foods-to-avoid guidance.
General information only, not medical advice: see the medical disclaimer. Feeling unwell after eating something? Contact NHS 111 or your GP.