For most adults and children over one, honey is a safe and pleasant food. There is one firm rule that every family should know, and a handful of situations where a little care makes sense. Here they are, plainly.
The firm rule: no honey for babies under 12 months
Health authorities including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the American Academy of Pediatrics advise that babies under 12 months should not be given honey in any form. The reason is infant botulism, a rare but serious illness.
Honey can occasionally contain dormant spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum, which reach the hive on dust or pollen. They are harmless to older children and adults, whose mature gut stops them from growing. In a baby’s immature gut, the spores can germinate and produce a toxin that affects the nerves.
- The rule covers all honey: raw, processed, organic or local.
- It includes honey baked into foods, because the spores survive cooking temperatures.
- Never dip a pacifier or gripe water in honey, and avoid honey-based home remedies for infants.
- Breastfeeding mothers can eat honey; the spores are not passed through breast milk.
After the first birthday, honey can be introduced in small amounts like any other food.
Diabetes
Honey is mostly sugar and raises blood glucose. Its glycaemic index varies by flower, with published values commonly around 45 to 64 against roughly 65 for table sugar, but that small difference does not make honey a free food. If you have diabetes, count it as added sugar, keep portions small, and check with your doctor or dietitian before using it regularly.
Pregnancy
For pregnant women, honey is generally considered safe as part of a balanced diet; the botulism concern applies to infants, not adults. As with any sugar, keep an eye on quantity, especially if you have been advised to watch your blood sugar.
Allergies
Allergic reactions to honey are uncommon but possible, usually linked to pollen or bee-related proteins. If you react badly to bee stings or certain pollens, try a small amount first, and stop if you notice itching, swelling or breathlessness.
Heating honey
Heating honey does not make it dangerous, but high heat dulls its aroma and breaks down its natural enzymes, and it raises HMF, a compound labs use as a sign of overheating. Ayurveda has long advised against cooking honey. Our suggestion: add honey to drinks once they have cooled to a comfortable sipping temperature, and drizzle it over food after cooking. See honey in warm water for how we do it.
Dental health
Like any sugar, honey feeds the bacteria that cause tooth decay, and its stickiness helps it cling to teeth. Brush or rinse after honey, particularly for children at bedtime.
The bottom line
Keep honey away from babies under one, treat it as sugar if you manage your blood glucose, and enjoy it in moderation otherwise. And choose genuine honey; here is how to check.
