Can you eat honeycomb? Benefits and side effects to know

Honey is a natural ingredient made out of beeswax and there is probably a jar or two stored in your house that you often use as a sweetener. You might have even tasted honey directly squeezed out of the honeycomb, but have you ever eaten the actual honeycomb?


Honeycomb is made of beeswax and is in a hexagonal formation. While sometimes honey can be adulterated, honeycomb is the only natural sweetener available and people who do not prefer a processed sweetener would like to enjoy honeycomb. Honeycomb is a natural product made by honey bees to store honey and pollen or house their larvae. You can eat the whole honeycomb, including the honey and waxy cells surrounding it.

Honeycombs are chewy and waxy and they taste very sweet with a floral tinge. It can be added as a delicious snack to your yogurt and cheese board.

While everyone can consume raw honey directly from a honeycomb, eating too much of it can be harmful. Experts say that honeycomb can be consumed in moderation as it offers several health benefits like antioxidant enzymes and polyphenols which support digestion, promote immune health, reduce inflammation, and even reduce the risk of cancer. Honeycomb may also contain some bee pollen, propolis, and royal jelly which are healthy.

Who cannot eat honeycomb?

Honeycomb is completely made of beeswax and it contains clostridium botulinum spores which are harmful for infants and young children who have not yet developed their digestive system fully. The spores in the honeycomb might cause botulism. The wax in the honeycomb is not fully digestible. Some people may experience bloating, stomach discomfort, or diarrhea after consuming it. The undigested wax could aggravate certain pre-existing conditions.


People with weak gut or have issues with the gallbladder or pancreas should avoid consuming honeycomb. While people are not allergic to honey, they might be allergic to bee products like wax, pollen, and even the smell that gives them a reaction ranging from itching to severe anaphylaxis.

Honey is naturally high in sweetness and it can spike blood glucose levels. Diabetic patients are not allowed to eat the honeycomb. Beeswax also contains a lot of bacteria that can be at risk of contamination and that's why doctors advise pregnant women to not consume honeycomb.