Beware Honey Scam

A shocking new study by Food Safety News (FSN) found that 75 percent of honey sold in major grocery stores doesn’t contain any honey at all. Scientist and director of Palynology Research Laboratory at Texas A&M University, Vaughn Bryant, one of the leaders in identifying pollen types in honey, examined more than 60 “honey” products purchased from ten states and the District of Columbia. He could not find even a trace of pollen in most of the so-called honey he examined. Identifying pollen traces helps to ensure the integrity of honey.

Worse than that, 100 percent of the honey examined from Walgreens, CVS, McDonald’s and KFC was not actually honey, according to FSN.

(In the U.S., the Food and Drug Administration says that any product that’s been ultra-filtered and no longer contains pollen isn’t honey.)

The FSN claims that the honey imposters were likely secretly imported from China and may be contaminated with antibiotic drugs and other foreign materials. It also indicates that these products were likely heated to extremely high temperatures, forced through tiny filters, and possibly adulterated in some way.

The study also found that the honey taken from farmers’ markets, whole foods stores, and food cooperatives was real and contained pollens and nutrients. If you purchase honey, supporting local beekeepers and whole food stores is best.

Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Natasha S.

12:07PM PDT on May 14, 2013

Locally grown is always the best for all produce!

May 14
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Janet S.

10:31PM PDT on May 13, 2013

Good to know and thank you for this article I'll tell friends and family members this most needed information Thank you for given your time in sharing with us all on care2.

May 13
send a green star

wael a.

5:06PM PDT on Apr 30, 2013

Thank you

April 30
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Holly C.

1:38PM PDT on Apr 30, 2013

I always get local honey. It is more expensive, but well worth it. Anyone who has never had local "real" honey will be in for a treat! Another benefit is that local honey will help with your pollen allergies. :)

Mark T.

2:45AM PDT on Apr 28, 2013

Doesn't contain honey, what a con.

April 28
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Shanti S.

11:33AM PDT on Apr 25, 2013

Thank you.

April 25
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Lady K.

6:41AM PDT on Apr 20, 2013

thanks

April 20
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Syd H.

10:07AM PDT on Mar 13, 2013

Sheila S, local honey is more expensive because it is... well, honey, unlike the so-called, "honey" that is no such thing.

I've known this for years but people really do want to be fooled and believe whatever as long as it fits what price point they have in their heads. We are our own worse enemy.

Now it's also that ultra-pasteurized shelf-stable "milk" that people think is so cool. It's all over Europe and it's worse that worthless. Yet people wonder why their health is failing...