Did you know that honey from the supermarket is often not real honey? Yes really; When we heard this, we were surprised too. Let’s talk about how to spot fake honey and where we find the real stuff.
You might be surprised to learn that many jars and bottles of honey from the supermarket aren’t actually pure honey. Studies by Foodwatch revealed that a big part of it has been mixed with sugar syrup made from sugar beets, wheat, and rice.
Cheap variant
It’s much cheaper for producers to fill jars with fake honey than the real thing. In the USA, importing honey costs around $2.50 per KG, but sugar syrup only costs $0.70. Plus, the syrup helps prevent the mixture from crystallizing too quickly.
Banned Fake Honey
You might be wondering how fake honey can be sold in stores labeled as “honey.” In the US, it’s strictly against the rules to mess with the product.
Real honey has to meet strict standards. It can’t be heated above 40 degrees Celsius and can’t have any fake additives. But still, fake honey gets sold a lot because it’s hard to figure out where it’s coming from. Honey and sugar syrup look and taste alike, making it tricky to tell them apart.
Chinese imports
In addition, research methods in the USA are way behind. Nearly half of the honey in the US comes from China. And those make sugar syrup are smart. They watch research methods closely, staying ahead in mixing their product, making it hard to trace.
Buy Honey from the Beekeeper
Luckily, eating honey is good for you. The only trick is the price. Want to be sure you’re getting real honey? Find a local beekeeper. That way, you’ll know you’re getting top-notch honey.
In the supermarket it is important to scan the label carefully. If the honey has been imported from outside the US, it is likely that it is a diluted product.
Kristin Walker
Yoga Instructor | Orcas Island, WA
