Honey allergy
Allergy to honey, possibly from pollen content.
About honey allergy
Honey is a natural sweetener made by bees from flower nectar, and it can contain traces of pollen, bee proteins and other plant material. True allergy to honey is uncommon, and reactions may be driven by the pollen it carries, by bee-derived proteins, or by the honey proteins themselves. Where allergy occurs it is IgE-mediated: the immune system makes antibodies to one of these components, and eating honey triggers the release of histamine and other chemicals. People sensitised to certain pollens, such as compositae plants like mugwort or sunflower, may be more prone to reacting.
Reactions typically appear within minutes to a couple of hours of eating. Common symptoms include an itchy mouth, lips or throat, hives, swelling, a runny nose and, sometimes, digestive upset. Most reactions are mild, but more serious reactions including wheeze and anaphylaxis have been reported, so any breathing symptoms should be taken seriously. Because the pollen content varies with the flowers the bees visited, some people react to certain honeys but not others. Honey is separately not recommended for infants under one year because of the risk of infant botulism, which is unrelated to allergy.
Diagnosis relies on your history alongside skin-prick or specific-IgE testing. Management means avoiding honey and checking labels on cereals, drinks, sauces and confectionery. If you are assessed to be at risk of a serious reaction, an adrenaline auto-injector may be prescribed. A severe reaction is a medical emergency: call 999 in the UK.
Common triggers
- Honey and products containing it
Symptoms
- Itching or tingling in the mouth
- Hives, itching or eczema
- Swelling of the lips, face, tongue or throat
- Stomach cramps, nausea, vomiting or diarrhoea
- Wheezing or trouble breathing
- In severe cases, anaphylaxis
Avoidance & management
- Read ingredient labels every time
- Ask about ingredients and cross-contamination when eating out
- Keep the food out of shared cooking areas
- Carry prescribed antihistamines or an adrenaline auto-injector
- Seek emergency help for any severe reaction
Sources & references
Allergy safety: what everyone should know
Mild-to-moderate reaction signs
- Itching, hives or a raised rash
- Swelling of lips, face or eyes
- Tingling mouth, sneezing, runny nose
- Stomach pain, nausea or vomiting
Anaphylaxis — call 999 (UK) or 112 (EU) immediately
- Difficult or noisy breathing, wheeze, persistent cough
- Swelling of the tongue or tightness in the throat
- Dizziness, collapse, pale and floppy (young children)
- Use an adrenaline auto-injector (e.g. EpiPen) at once if prescribed, then call an ambulance even if symptoms improve
Allergy or intolerance? A true allergy involves the immune system and can escalate quickly; an intolerance (e.g. lactose intolerance) is unpleasant but not life-threatening. The symptoms overlap, so self-diagnosis is unreliable.
Getting tested: home-testing kits based on IgG are not diagnostically valid. If you suspect an allergy, ask a GP for referral to an allergy clinic for skin-prick or specific-IgE testing and a supervised food challenge where appropriate.