The honey aisles in the stores are getting larger, and people can now choose between different types of honey. With so much choice, many shoppers wonder how to tell real honey from so-called fake honey. There is premium honey, and very often the stores offer their own brand too. Many people base their choice on the price alone, and that is not always the best guide.
An investigation conducted by Food Safety News in 2011 showed that about 75% of the honey it tested from stores had been processed with so-called “ultra-filtration”. This process removes impurities found in raw honey, but it also removes the pollen. Furthermore, the investigation found that most of the honey products processed in this way were generic brands (store brands).
Ultra-filtration is a process criticized by many nutritionists. Some of them say that the wax, pollen, and other natural particles are a valuable part of honey. In addition, critics say there is no proof that this process improves the shelf life of honey.
According to Food Safety News, ultra-filtration can also hide where the honey comes from, because pollen is the only element of honey that can confirm the product’s origin (location). The report suggested that some producers use the process for that reason, and mentioned honey from China, where some honey-producing regions are heavily polluted.
Fake Honey Investigation
FSN took some samples and sent them to Vaughn Bryant, a professor at Texas A&M University and a leading pollen expert. He found that about 75% of the honey had no pollen, which means that he couldn’t confirm its origin. The samples were not bought in small local stores; they were all bought from large national stores.
For example, according to the report, the honey samples from drugstores like CVS Pharmacy and Walgreens had no pollen. The same goes for the Winnie the Pooh honey sold in Walmart and the individual honey packets from McDonald’s and KFC. In addition, 77% of the honey samples from stores like Sam’s Club, Costco, and Target had all the pollen removed. On the other hand, honey bought from farmers’ markets and co-ops contained its pollen and the other natural components of raw honey.
After this and a few other similar investigations, many people asked the FDA to take action on ultra-filtered honey in stores.
As a reminder, raw honey contains small amounts of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals, as well as phytonutrients and antioxidants. It has been used as a traditional food and home remedy for centuries.
While we are on the topic, you can also read about Manuka honey.
In the meantime, a good way to avoid making the wrong choice is to buy honey from natural food stores and farmers’ markets.
Other Honey-Related Articles
- Traditional natural remedies used by the Amish – Amish America
- 8 Things That Happen When You Drink Honey Water on an Empty Stomach
- Golden Honey – A Traditional Honey and Turmeric Blend
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always talk to your doctor about any health concern.