Royal Jelly Side Effects and Who Should Avoid It
Updated 2026-09-20 · 5 min read
Most royal jelly content is about benefits. This page is about the other half, because the allergy risk is real and documented, and a supplement page that skips it is not being straight with you.
The allergy risk is the main one
Royal jelly is a bee product, and allergic reactions to it are documented in the medical literature. Reported reactions range from mild skin or digestive symptoms through to bronchospasm and anaphylaxis. Cases of severe reaction, including fatal ones, have been reported.
This is not a reason for panic, but it is a reason to take the warning on the box literally rather than treating it as boilerplate.
Higher-risk groups
- People with existing allergies to bee products, pollen or honey.
- People with asthma, who appear over-represented in reported severe reactions.
- People with multiple existing allergies or atopic conditions.
Other reported effects
Aside from allergic reactions, reported effects are generally mild and include digestive upset and skin irritation in topical use. Because royal jelly is usually taken in a blend rather than alone, it can be hard to attribute an effect to it specifically.
If the product also contains ginseng
Many royal jelly products, ONYX included, also contain Panax ginseng, which has its own profile. Ginseng may interact with blood thinners such as warfarin, with diabetes medication, and with some antidepressants, and can cause trouble sleeping at higher doses. Our ginseng guide covers this in more detail.
And it is still sugar
A honey sachet is mostly honey, and honey is sugar. For ONYX that works out at about 70 calories and roughly 13g of sugars per two-sachet serving. If you are managing blood sugar or watching added sugars, count it like any other sweet food rather than treating supplement framing as a free pass.
Never give honey to infants
This applies to honey of every kind, not just blends. Honey can contain Clostridium botulinum spores, which an infant gut cannot handle, and infant botulism is a serious illness. Do not give honey in any form to a child under 12 months.
If you react
- Stop taking it.
- For mild symptoms, speak to a doctor or pharmacist.
- For trouble breathing, swelling of the face, lips or throat, or faintness, treat it as an emergency and call emergency services.
- Take the packaging with you so the ingredients can be read.
The short version
- The main risk is allergy, and it is documented and occasionally severe.
- Asthma and existing bee or pollen allergies raise that risk.
- Not for under 18s, pregnancy or breastfeeding.
- Never give honey to an infant under 12 months.
- Ask a pharmacist if you take any prescription medication.
Common questions
Can I take royal jelly if I am allergic to bees?
No. If you have a known allergy to bee products, pollen or honey, avoid royal jelly. Allergic reactions to royal jelly are documented in the medical literature and have ranged up to anaphylaxis.
Can I take royal jelly while pregnant?
Royal jelly is not recommended during pregnancy or breastfeeding, and ONYX is labelled accordingly. There is not enough safety evidence, and the sensible default with supplements in pregnancy is to avoid them unless a doctor advises otherwise.
How much sugar is in a honey sachet?
For ONYX, a two-sachet serving contains about 70 calories and roughly 13g of total sugars, including 13g of added sugars. Check the Supplement Facts panel of any product, since this varies by brand and sachet size.
Can children take royal jelly?
ONYX is labelled as not for use by anyone under 18. Separately and more urgently, honey of any kind must never be given to infants under 12 months because of the risk of infant botulism.