Nine in ten honey samples from UK retailers fail authenticity test – Call for industry reform as latest results support belief that products are being bulked out with cheaper sugar syrup

https://www.theguardian.com/food/2024/nov/09/nine-in-ten-honey-samples-from-uk-retailers-fail-authenticity-test

by ByGollie

11 comments

  2. ***TLDR***

    A recent UK honey authenticity test revealed that over 90% of honey samples from major retailers were likely adulterated with cheaper sugar syrups. The Honey Authenticity Network UK tested 30 samples, finding only UK beekeeper-produced honey genuine, while 24 out of 25 retail samples failed. The findings echo an EU report suggesting widespread honey fraud, spurring calls for better testing, labelling, and support for British honey producers to restore consumer trust.

  3. Companies chasing profits is definitely over the line.

  4. We should absolutely deregulate the food industry and defund the nosy administration examining food quality. /s

    Oh and of course the EU should sign free trade agreements allowing this, with countries doing exactly this ! /S

  5. There’s only so many bees and so much honey they can produce. Demand far out strips supply and we work them to hard as it is.

    Of course there’s going to be this kind of adulteration and faking for profits.

  6. ‘Honey Fraud’ is not a term I had expected to read today.

  7. Here’s an idea. If a jar of honey contains less than 90% honey. Then the front label should have the words ‘Honey Substitute’ with a font that takes up 30% of the label area, clearly displayed.

  8. I unfold a similar article to my British friend some time ago and he was *literally* shocked.

    Can you really be shocked by the fact that honey don’t cost £1 for 500ml?

  9. I had Hilltop honey from a UK supermarket recently and it definitely tasted “watered-down”. It also claims it’s Welsh but clearly states on the back that it uses Chinese honey.

    I’ve had some supermarket own brand and Rowse and found them to be a lot better.

  10. I think a lot of the “honey” is coming in from China. It’s soooo cheap. And shite tbh.
    My local honey farm shop sells it at £5 a 400g jar. 50p back for the jar.

    Aldi is terrible for food labelling. All food products should state where they are made and exactly what’s in the can.

  11. Now I’m curious how many would pass the test in the states, especially from relatively well respected house brands (Trader Joe’s, Costco).

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