The Risks of Raw Honey

Although honey is a natural sweetener with numerous health benefits, there are risks associated with ingesting raw honey. Honey is the product of the pollination process. Bees collect flower nectar. The nectar mixes with bee enzymes. The bees deposit the nectar into the cells of their hive, where it morphs into honey. Like many natural products, honey is normally pasteurized, treated with heat to remove bacteria. Some people believe that raw, or unpasteurized honey, has healing powers removed during pasteurization.

Infant Botulism

Babies less than a year old should never be fed raw or even pasteurized honey, as there is a risk of infant botulism. Botulinum spores are found throughout our environment, in dust, soil and in honey. Dr. Alan Greene, a pediatrician, writes that the botulinum spores can grow into botulinum toxin if an infant ingests honey, due to his immature intestinal track. Even a microscopic amount of honey can trigger the growth of botulism, according to Dr. Greene.

Food Poisoning

Eating raw honey can lead to food poisoning, according to the U.S. National Institutes of Health. Since honey is a natural product, it may contain organic debris of honeybees, flowers and other material. The flower nectar that honeybees gather to produce the honey may have been subjected to pesticides, fertilizers or other dangerous chemicals. During the pasteurization process, these materials are removed and the chemicals are neutralized.

Allergies

Some people who eat raw honey believe that it can alleviate certain allergic symptoms. However, eating raw honey has a slight risk of triggering an allergic reaction in people who are allergic to bee venom. Because of this, you shouldn't eat raw honey if you have a known allergy to bee venom. In his book, "The PDR Family Guide to Natural Medicines & Healing Therapies," David Sifton recommends to avoid even the slightest risk of a reaction.