Honey is appreciated for its sweet, delicious taste… European regulations strictly control the composition of honey, prohibiting the addition of sugar, additives or flavorings.
At the supermarket, you should be able to find pure honey. But we’re far from it… In a study published in March 2023, the European Commission assessed the amount of sugar-altered honey on the market!
Here are the results of the analysis!
Honeys that don’t really comply
46% of the honeys analyzed did not comply with the requirements set by the European Union.
According to 60 millions de consommateurs magazine, « the European Commission’s Joint Research Centre and the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) took 320 samples of honey imported by 16 member states, as well as Norway and Switzerland, between November 2021 and February 2022. The European Commission’s interest in honeys produced outside the EU stems from the fact that its member states import significant quantities, as their production falls short of demand. «
The result? The main exporters come from China! In fact, 74% of non-compliant honeys come from China!
The country of origin of honey now indicated on the jar
According to the study, 100% of UK honeys have suspect samples! Researchers believe that these are honeys produced in other countries and blended on the other side of the Channel before being exported to Europe!
Fortunately, in France, manufacturers are now obliged to indicate all the countries of origin of their honey on their labels… Keep your eyes peeled!
Honey in syrup?
The investigation also revealed and denounced a fraudulent practice of adding sugar syrup to honey in order to undercut prices.
Beekeepers’ network Un toit pour les abeilles explains that « a price that’s too low should alert you ». Beware, the price is certainly a guarantee of quality!
Lies in spades!
Some brands even call in analytical laboratories to tamper with honey and sugar mixtures so that customers can’t detect them!
OLAF’s Director General explains that « the most common type of honey fraud is adulteration, i.e. adding cheap ingredients instead of keeping the honey pure. But we have also found examples of fraud on origin, with labels displaying a false origin of the product. »
The survey also reveals the massive use ofadditives and colorants in honey!