Honey During Pregnancy: Is It Safe?
CDC's honey warning is for babies under 1 year, and honey is not on CDC's list of riskier foods for pregnant women. What that means for honey, agave and raw honey.
The short answer: Honey is not on CDC's list of riskier foods for pregnant women. CDC's honey warning is about infants: do not feed honey to a child younger than 1 year old, because honey can contain the bacteria that cause botulism.
Why is honey unsafe for babies but not listed for pregnancy?
CDC explains that infant botulism happens when bacterial spores get into a baby's intestines and grow. Its pregnancy food-safety chart, which covers meat, eggs, dairy, produce, juice, seafood, and flour, does not include honey. If you have specific concerns, ask your prenatal care provider.
Is raw or unpasteurized honey OK in pregnancy?
CDC's pregnancy chart doesn't address raw honey separately, and we couldn't find a CDC, FDA, NIH, or ACOG statement on it, so we won't make a call. Ask your provider.
How much honey is OK?
Honey is an added sugar. The FDA's added sugars label page explains the Daily Value of 50 g of added sugars per day on a 2,000-calorie diet. See honey for nutrition data.
What about honey mustard and other honey foods?
Honey mustard is covered on its food page. Agave, another syrup, has its own food page.
Common questions
Will eating honey while pregnant cause botulism in my baby?
CDC's guidance is about feeding honey directly to infants under 1 year, including honey pacifiers. It does not warn pregnant women against honey.
Can I put honey in ginger tea for nausea?
Honey isn't on CDC's pregnancy riskier list. See our ginger guide for the ginger part.
Sources: CDC botulism prevention, CDC safer food choices for pregnant women, and FDA added sugars. This guide is educational and does not replace prenatal care.