What Are the Side Effects of Licking Honey? A Guide to Safe Consumption

November 26, 2025 •

4 min read

While humans have enjoyed honey for over 8000 years, assuming it's always safe is a mistake. It's crucial to understand what are the side effects of licking honey, especially when considering overconsumption, raw varieties, or specific health conditions like allergies.

Quick Summary

Licking honey carries risks such as infant botulism for babies under one year, allergic reactions triggered by pollen, elevated blood sugar, and digestive problems with excessive consumption.

Key Points

Infant Botulism: Honey, both raw and processed, can contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which are highly dangerous and potentially fatal for infants under one year old.
Allergic Reactions: Pollen within honey can trigger allergies in sensitive individuals, with symptoms ranging from mild hives and sneezing to severe anaphylactic shock.
High Sugar Content: Excessive honey intake contributes to high sugar consumption, which can lead to weight gain, dental cavities, and blood sugar spikes, especially for diabetics.
Digestive Issues: High levels of fructose in honey can cause gastrointestinal distress, including bloating, cramping, and diarrhea, particularly for people with IBS.
Mad Honey Poisoning: A rare but serious risk is grayanotoxin poisoning from raw or wild honey where bees have foraged on poisonous plants.
Medication Interactions: Honey may affect blood clotting, potentially interacting with certain medications like blood thinners.

Honey has long been celebrated as a natural sweetener with a host of health benefits, from soothing sore throats to possessing antibacterial properties. However, the notion that 'natural' equals completely safe can be misleading. While a small amount is harmless for most healthy adults, overindulging or consuming it under certain circumstances can lead to adverse effects. The potential dangers vary depending on the consumer's age and health status, as well as the honey's source and processing.

The Critical Risk of Infant Botulism

One of the most serious side effects of licking honey is the risk of infant botulism in children under 12 months of age. Honey, whether raw or pasteurized, can contain spores of the bacterium Clostridium botulinum.

Why are infants vulnerable?

An infant's digestive system is not mature enough to neutralize these spores.
The spores can then germinate, grow, and produce a dangerous toxin inside the baby's intestines.
This toxin attacks the nervous system, potentially causing symptoms that include constipation, muscle weakness, a weak cry, and even respiratory failure.

Pediatric and health organizations universally advise against giving honey, even a small taste, to infants under one year of age.

Potential Allergic Reactions

Although honey allergies are relatively rare, they can occur and range from mild to severe. Allergies are often linked to the pollen content found within the honey.

Symptoms of a honey allergy may include:

Mild: Itching, swelling of the mouth, lips, or throat, runny nose, or hives.
Severe: Wheezing, shortness of breath, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, fainting, or anaphylactic shock.

Individuals with known pollen allergies, particularly to plants like ragweed, may be at higher risk for a reaction to honey. Since raw honey contains more pollen than processed honey, it may be a greater risk for sensitive individuals.

Blood Sugar and Weight Concerns

Honey is essentially a form of sugar, composed primarily of fructose and glucose, which means it should be consumed in moderation.

Excessive consumption can lead to:

Blood Sugar Spikes: While it has a slightly lower glycemic index than table sugar, honey can still cause blood sugar levels to rise. This is particularly dangerous for individuals with diabetes or insulin resistance.
Weight Gain: As a calorie-dense sweetener, overconsumption of honey can contribute to weight gain, especially when added to an already high-sugar diet.
Dental Issues: The high sugar content and sticky nature of honey can promote tooth decay, especially without proper dental hygiene.

Digestive Distress and Intolerance

For some people, especially those with certain gastrointestinal issues, licking too much honey can cause significant discomfort.

Digestive side effects include:

Bloating and Diarrhea: The high fructose content can be difficult for some bodies to absorb completely, leading to incomplete absorption in the small intestine and subsequent fermentation in the large intestine. This process can cause bloating, gas, and diarrhea.
IBS Aggravation: People with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) or fructose malabsorption should be cautious, as honey's sugar profile can trigger or worsen their symptoms.

Rare but Serious Risks

In very rare instances, honey can contain toxins or interact with medications.

'Mad Honey' Poisoning: Wild or unfiltered raw honey from specific regions (e.g., parts of the Black Sea) can contain grayanotoxins from poisonous rhododendron flowers. Symptoms of poisoning include nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and low blood pressure. This risk is generally diluted in commercially processed honey.
Drug Interactions: Honey may have an inhibitory effect on blood clotting. This means it could potentially interact with blood-thinning medications, increasing the risk of bruising and bleeding. It can also interfere with the absorption of certain epilepsy drugs.

Raw Honey vs. Processed Honey


Feature	Raw Honey	Processed Honey
Processing	Unfiltered, unpasteurized.	Heated and filtered.
Pollen Content	Higher.	Lower (most pollen is removed).
Risk of Allergies	Higher, especially for those with pollen sensitivities.	Lower, but still possible.
Risk of Botulism Spores	Present in both raw and processed.	Present in both, but infant risk is the key factor.
Nutrients & Enzymes	Contains more natural nutrients and enzymes.	Some nutrients and enzymes may be lost during heating.

Conclusion: Licking Honey in Moderation

For the average healthy adult, licking a small amount of honey is generally safe and may even offer minor benefits. However, moderation is the key to avoiding the less desirable side effects, most of which are associated with overconsumption. The most critical caution is to absolutely avoid giving honey to infants under one year old due to the severe risk of botulism. If you have pre-existing conditions like diabetes, IBS, or known allergies, or are on medication, it is wise to consult a healthcare professional before making honey a regular part of your diet. By being mindful of these risks, you can enjoy the sweetness of honey safely.

For more health information, you can consult reputable sources like the Mayo Clinic on the uses and risks of honey.

Frequently Asked Questions

No, honey should never be given to infants under 12 months old, not even a small taste. It carries a significant risk of causing infant botulism due to Clostridium botulinum spores.

Eating too much honey can lead to weight gain due to its calorie content, digestive issues like bloating and diarrhea from high fructose, and potentially raise blood sugar levels, especially for people with diabetes.

Yes, although rare, licking honey can cause an allergic reaction in people who are sensitive to bee pollen or bee-derived proteins within the honey. Symptoms can range from mild to severe.

Raw honey contains more pollen and is unpasteurized, potentially increasing the risk of allergic reactions for sensitive individuals. Both raw and processed honey carry the risk of infant botulism.

Yes, while a better alternative than table sugar for some, honey still contains significant sugar and carbohydrates. Diabetics should consume it with caution and monitor their blood sugar levels to avoid dangerous spikes.

Yes, the high fructose content in honey can be difficult for some people to digest, especially those with fructose malabsorption or IBS, which can lead to abdominal cramps, gas, and diarrhea.

'Mad honey' poisoning is a rare form of food poisoning caused by consuming honey that contains grayanotoxins, picked up by bees from poisonous plants. It can cause nausea, vomiting, and dizziness.