Honey not safe for everyone, expert warns of potentially fatal risks

Professor Nina Vishnevskaya, from Perm Technical University, has cautioned that honey can pose serious health risks to certain individuals, potentially leading to life-threatening conditions. She explained that consuming honey may trigger severe allergic reactions, including anaphylactic shock, which requires immediate medical attention.

Identifying the root cause of such reactions necessitates medical tests and a thorough review of the person's medical history, as the source could be honey or one of its components. Severe immune responses can result in throat swelling and a significant drop in blood pressure, emphasizing the need for rapid medical intervention.

Certain health conditions warrant avoiding honey altogether, including hereditary fructose intolerance and small intestinal bacterial overgrowth syndrome. Vishnevskaya also warned against consuming honeydew honey due to its potential impact on potassium excretion in individuals with kidney disease, as well as its avoidance for pregnant and breastfeeding women, and children under three years old, due to the risk of botulism.

The bacterium Clostridium botulinum can be present in honey, and its spores are not harmful to adults and older children but can thrive in the immature digestive systems of young children, producing toxins that cause botulism.