Can Honey Make You Feel Unwell? Understanding the Risks

October 31, 2025 •

4 min read

According to the World Health Organization, honey should never be given to infants under 12 months due to the risk of botulism. While often lauded for its health benefits, it is crucial to understand the circumstances under which honey can make you feel unwell and when to avoid it.

Quick Summary

Honey can cause adverse reactions, ranging from mild digestive upset and allergic symptoms to severe botulism in infants and rare poisonings from specific plant nectars. The risk depends on factors like age, amount consumed, and individual sensitivities. Moderation and awareness are key to safely enjoying honey's benefits. Certain honey, like raw honey, can contain spores of Clostridium botulinum that pose a severe threat to infants under one year old.

Key Points

Digestive Issues: Excessive honey consumption, particularly due to its high fructose content, can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea, especially for individuals with fructose malabsorption or IBS.
Infant Botulism Risk: Honey should never be given to infants under one year old due to the potential presence of Clostridium botulinum spores, which can lead to a severe and potentially fatal form of botulism.
Pollen Allergies: Raw or unprocessed honey may contain traces of bee pollen, which can trigger allergic reactions ranging from mild hives to severe anaphylaxis in sensitive individuals.
Grayanotoxin Poisoning: A rare but dangerous risk, 'mad honey' poisoning, occurs when bees gather nectar from rhododendron flowers. It can cause serious symptoms like low blood pressure and slowed heart rate.
Moderation is Key: For most adults, moderate consumption is safe, but overindulgence can lead to blood sugar spikes, weight gain, and dental problems due to honey's high sugar and calorie content.
Source Reputable Honey: To avoid rare but serious risks like mad honey poisoning, always purchase honey from established, reputable commercial sources.

Why Honey Can Sometimes Cause Discomfort

While a natural product, honey is not immune to causing adverse reactions in some people or under certain conditions. The reasons range from simple dietary overindulgence to more serious health risks related to contamination or specific sensitivities. Understanding these factors is key to knowing when your discomfort might be linked to honey consumption.

Digestive Issues from High Sugar Content

One of the most common reasons people experience stomach problems after eating honey is its high fructose content. Fructose malabsorption is a condition where the small intestine has difficulty absorbing this type of sugar, leading to digestive distress. In healthy individuals, consuming excessive amounts of honey can still overwhelm the system. The unabsorbed fructose travels to the large intestine, where it is fermented by bacteria, causing symptoms such as:

Bloating
Gas
Cramping
Diarrhea

For those with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), honey is considered a high-FODMAP food (Fermentable Oligosaccharides, Disaccharides, Monosaccharides, and Polyols) and can exacerbate symptoms significantly. A low-FODMAP diet often recommends limiting or eliminating honey to manage these issues.

Allergic Reactions to Pollen or Bee Components

Raw or unprocessed honey contains bee pollen and other bee-related components that can trigger allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. While honey allergies are rare, symptoms can range from mild to severe, including anaphylaxis in extreme cases. Allergic reactions are typically caused by pollen grains present in the honey and can manifest as:

Hives and swelling
Itchy throat or mouth
Runny nose and sneezing
Nausea and vomiting
In severe cases, wheezing or difficulty breathing

It is important to note that processed, filtered honey has most of the pollen removed, potentially reducing the risk for those with mild sensitivities. However, raw honey, especially local raw honey sometimes consumed for seasonal allergies, carries a higher risk of containing enough pollen to trigger a reaction.

Grayanotoxin Poisoning (Mad Honey)

One of the most dangerous and rare types of honey-related illness is Grayanotoxin poisoning, also known as "mad honey" poisoning. This occurs when bees collect nectar from rhododendron flowers, which contain grayanotoxins that contaminate the honey. This poisonous honey is found in specific regions, notably the Black Sea region of Turkey, Nepal, and parts of North America. Symptoms of mad honey poisoning typically appear within a few hours and include:

Dizziness and nausea
Blurred vision
Vomiting
Hypotension (low blood pressure)
Bradycardia (slowed heart rate)

In severe cases, grayanotoxin poisoning can be life-threatening. Commercial honey production processes generally pool and test large batches, which dilutes any potential toxins. The risk is highest with small-batch, wild, or raw honey from affected areas.

Infant Botulism

This is a critical risk and a primary reason health authorities strictly warn against giving honey to infants under one year old. Honey, regardless of whether it is processed or raw, can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum. These spores are harmless to older children and adults whose mature digestive systems can prevent the bacteria from proliferating. However, an infant's underdeveloped intestinal tract allows the spores to germinate, multiply, and produce a dangerous neurotoxin. Infant botulism can cause symptoms including:

Constipation
Floppy movements or muscle weakness
Weak crying
Poor feeding
Loss of head control

This condition can lead to paralysis and is a serious medical emergency.

Potential Complications of Excessive Honey Consumption

Even without a specific allergy or pre-existing condition, overindulging in honey can lead to several health issues due to its high sugar content and caloric density.

Blood Sugar Spikes: Honey, like refined sugar, significantly raises blood sugar levels, especially for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.
Weight Gain: As with any high-calorie sweetener, consuming too much honey can contribute to weight gain over time.
Dental Problems: The high sugar content and sticky texture of honey make it a risk for tooth decay, as it can cling to tooth surfaces and feed bacteria.

Comparison: Honey Consumption Risks


Cause of Illness	Affected Population	Severity	Primary Symptoms
High Fructose Content	Individuals with fructose malabsorption or sensitive guts	Mild to Moderate	Bloating, gas, cramping, diarrhea
Pollen Allergy	Individuals with pollen allergies	Mild to Severe (rarely)	Hives, swelling, itching, sneezing, vomiting
Grayanotoxin Poisoning	Anyone consuming toxic 'mad honey' from specific regions	Moderate to Severe	Dizziness, low blood pressure, slowed heart rate
Infant Botulism	Infants under 12 months	Severe	Constipation, muscle weakness, poor feeding

Conclusion: Navigating Honey's Health Risks

While honey is widely known for its health benefits, including antioxidants and antimicrobial properties, it's not a universal panacea and can lead to problems under specific circumstances. Most adults can safely consume honey in moderation, but key risk factors—such as age, amount consumed, and geographic origin—must be considered. Infants under one year should never consume honey due to botulism risk. Individuals with digestive sensitivities or pollen allergies should monitor their symptoms and opt for processed honey or other sweeteners. The rare but serious threat of 'mad honey' poisoning from unregulated wild honey in certain regions highlights the importance of sourcing honey from reputable suppliers. Being mindful of these potential dangers allows for a safer and more informed approach to enjoying this natural sweetener.

For more information on food safety, you can consult resources from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Frequently Asked Questions

For healthy adults, the risk of botulism from honey is extremely low. An adult's mature digestive system is robust enough to neutralize the Clostridium botulinum spores that honey might contain. The primary risk is for infants under 12 months, whose systems are not yet developed.

Symptoms of a honey allergy can vary from mild to severe. Common signs include hives, swelling, a runny nose, sneezing, an itchy throat, nausea, and abdominal pain. In rare cases, a severe reaction known as anaphylaxis can occur, which requires immediate medical attention.

Honey is a high-fructose food. If you have fructose malabsorption or sensitive digestion (like with IBS), your body may struggle to absorb the fructose. This unabsorbed sugar then ferments in the large intestine, producing gas and leading to bloating and other discomforts.

To avoid getting sick, practice moderation in your consumption, especially if you have a sensitive digestive system. Ensure you source your honey from reputable commercial producers to avoid rare toxic varieties like 'mad honey'. If you have pollen allergies, processed honey may be a safer choice than raw honey.

Raw honey contains more pollen and other bee particles than processed honey, which is filtered and pasteurized. This makes raw honey slightly more likely to trigger an allergic reaction in those with pollen sensitivities. For infants, the risk of botulism spores exists in both raw and processed honey.

Excessive consumption of honey can, in some cases, contribute to low blood pressure, or hypotension. While moderate amounts can have a positive effect, overconsumption can cause a drop in blood pressure, potentially leading to symptoms like dizziness or fatigue.

'Mad honey' is honey contaminated with grayanotoxins from the nectar of rhododendron flowers. It is primarily found in certain regions, most notably the Black Sea area of Turkey. Its consumption can cause serious health issues, including low blood pressure and slowed heart rate.