Can I Eat Honey While Pregnant?
Generally safeGeneral guidance from CDC. Please always check with your provider.
Honey is perfectly safe for you to enjoy during pregnancy, so you can sweeten and cook with it as usual.
Why
The infant-botulism concern people associate with honey applies only to babies under one year of age, whose digestive systems cannot yet handle the bacterial spores honey can contain. Your adult digestive system neutralizes those spores, so per CDC guidance honey poses no special risk to you or your baby while you are pregnant. The caution belongs to the year after birth, not to pregnancy.
How to enjoy it safely
Use honey however you like, in tea, yogurt, or baking, keeping in mind it still counts as added sugar. Remember the rule for later: do not give honey to your baby until after their first birthday.
When to ask your provider
Ask your Garden OB/GYN provider about overall added-sugar targets if you are managing gestational diabetes or blood sugar concerns.
More foods that are generally safe
This page is for general education and is not medical advice. It summarizes guidance from CDC, which can change, and individual situations vary, so please confirm with your Garden OB/GYN provider.
Questions about your pregnancy diet?
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