What’s the Buzz with Imported Honey: Is All Imported Honey Fake?
The short answer is: No. The medium answer is: No, but you should be aware that a lot of imported honey is fake. The long answer is the one that will give you a better understanding of what’s going on in the global honey industry, where honey is one of the most adulterated foods in the world. Yes, you read right: Honey is one of the most faked foods in the world. It often tops the global food fraud lists. A recent EU study showed nearly 50% of all honey imported into the EU was suspect. The US is the same, if not worse. So there’s real reason to be concerned.
EU Findings on Imported Honey Fraud
A major coordinated EU investigation, From the Hives (2021–2022), tested 320 imported honey samples. The study found that 46% were likely non-compliant with the EU Honey Directive. This marks a sharp rise from 14% in the previous 2015–2017 review.
The highest number of suspicious consignments came from China (74%), while Turkey had the highest proportion of adulterated samples (93%). Honey imported from the UK showed an even higher suspicion rate (100%). This was likely due to blending and re-exporting of non-EU honey.
Investigations uncovered the use of sugar syrups, colourants, and additives. They also found forged traceability data and removal of pollen to disguise origin. Authorities also found that some producers adjusted blends after laboratory analysis to evade detection before import. The findings strongly suggest that a significant portion of adulterated non-EU honey remains undetected on the EU market.
Honey Fraud Explained: What Counts as Fake or Adulterated Honey
Adulterated honey is bulked with cheap syrups, colourants, and flavourings — not what bees made.
Many people eat honey not just for the taste and sweetness, but because we know that it is good for us. Honey is full of beneficial enzymes, pollen, propolis and antioxidants such as polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory effects.Real honey, that is. But this is obviously not true for honey that has been cut with sugars, syrups, flavourings and colourants. It may look like honey, but has none of the health benefits of real honey. So while you might reach for honey at the onset of a sore throat, cough or cold & flu, unless it is the real deal, it’s not likely to do more for you than a spoon of sugar.
Real Honey is made by Honeybees from plant nectar. Fake or adulterated honey is honey that has been replaced or diluted with cheaper sugar syrups derived from plants like sugar cane, corn, or rice. Colourants and flavourings have then been added to mimic the appearance and taste of genuine honey. These syrups bulk up the volume, making the ‘honey’ cheaper to produce than real honey made by real honeybees from real plant nectar.
It seems like daily that we read reports abound of fake imported ‘honey’ made from syrup with colourants and flavourings. As a honey producer and seller myself, I’m often offered very cheap honey in bulk from companies in countries known to be among the worst offenders for selling fake honey. The ‘honey’ is simply too cheap to be real. I understand how it could be tempting for some that just want to make money. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people why take advantage of this.
Processing of Imported Honey: Heating, Fine Filtering, and Lost Traceability
Overheating and ultra-filtering delay crystallisation and erase pollen — but also erase provenance.
Much of the imported honey undergoes extensive heating and filtering. Heating prevents granulation by melting the sugars, while fine filtering removes pollen. This process delays granulation and ensures the honey remains liquid for longer, but it also strips the honey of its unique properties and makes it impossible to trace its geographical origin.
Imported honey can come from anywhere. Some of the world’s top honey exporters are China, New Zealand, Argentina, Ukraine, Brazil and India. The issue with imported honey is not that it is imported. In fact, the demand for honey is so big that we need to import, especially in poor years for honey production such as this. Some imported honey is excellent and pure. The problem with imported honey is that there is no way of knowing which is real, and which is fake. This is because, at the point of importation, very little of it is tested to ascertain if it is real honey. Most tests carried out determines if the product is food-safe, but not to verify that it is real honey made by honeybees…
Are you enjoying reading this Bee-Splaining article? Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the next one!
Honey Imports: Limited Authenticity Testing
Food-safety checks are common, authenticity tests are not — letting adulterated honey through.
At the point of importation, very little of it is tested to ascertain if it is real honey. Most tests carried out determines if the product is food-safe, but not to verify that it is real honey made by honeybees.
EU Honey Labelling Regulations & Loopholes
“Blend of EU and Non-EU honey” hides ratios and origin — leaving consumers in the dark.
Once the honey has entered the EU or domestic market, it is blended and repackaged. If you look carefully at a jar of imported honey, you will often see the term: Blend of EU and Non-EU Honey. Usually in very small print on the lid. There is no requirement currently to state the ratio of EU and Non-EU honey on the label. This means that one of these blends could contain a minuscule amount of EU honey and a large proportion from countries with less stringent production standards.
The labelling of honey overall is very misleading, not just in Ireland but in the EU and beyond. Much of the imported honey sold on the supermarket shelves are sold by brands with very indigenous sounding names, with the label proclaiming that this or that family business has been keeping bees for generations etc. But if you read the small print, not one drop of honey in the jar is produced domestically.
Beekeepers in Europe have been lobbying to change the regulation. There are new regulations coming, but there are some loopholes in it. Hence, it could be a very long process before country of origin and blend ratios are clearly shown on the labels of imported honey. But, in my opinion, this is one of the best ways to ensure that what is in the jars is honey and the consumers are not getting tricked into buying fake honey.
The Impact of Imported Honey on Beekeepers and Consumers
Cheap blends and misleading labels undercut genuine Irish producers and mislead shoppers.
Considering how much regulation is involved for beekeepers producing honey domestically, both here in Ireland, the rest of Europe and in the US, the lack of rigorous testing at the point of importation is ludicrous. It is allowing potentially adulterated honey to enter the market unchecked. Flooding the market and competing with beekeepers producing real honey. To add insult to injury, the labelling laws are so weak and flawed, that it is allowed to mislead consumers into believing that they are buying a domestic product, when in fact ALL the honey in the jar is imported.
This clever marketing ploy results in consumers believing that they are buying domestic honey in the supermarket at a much lower price than what the local beekeeper is charging, sometimes giving rise to local beekeepers being told that they are overcharging for their product when the customer can buy ‘the exact same honey for half the price in the supermarket…’
Supermarket “Squeezy Bottle” Honey, Organic Honey or Local Honey?
Price and presentation can be deceptive — origin and traceability matter more.
Many consumers who are aware of the issues with imported honey choose to instead buy Organic honey. However, as there is no organic honey produced in Ireland, this product too is imported. You can read more about why we don’t produce any organic honey in Ireland here: https://hannasbees.ie/irish-organic-honey/
So next time you’re in the supermarket choosing between that cheap squeezy bottle of honey of dubious origin, the imported organic honey, and the honey from the local beekeeper, which is pricier and has started to go a bit cloudy, ask yourself which is more likely to be real honey made by honeybees and not in some factory on the other side of the world. I think you know the answer.
Real honey isn’t cheap, and cheap honey isn’t real.
Did you enjoy reading this Bee-Splaining article? Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the next one!
Key Takeaways
Imported honey: Not all fake, but a substantial share (recent EU study showed nearly 50%) is suspect. This is sold as non-EU Honey & EU/non-EU blends.
Adulteration: Common tactics include cheap sugar syrups, colourants, and flavourings.
Processing: Overheating and fine filtering remove pollen and traceability.
Labelling: “Blend of EU and Non-EU honey” does not disclose ratios or true origin.
For consumers: Read labels carefully & Choose traceable local honey from beekeepers you trust.
Hanna Bäckmo is an award-winning beekeeper, entrepreneur, hobby gardener and internationally published writer. Originally from a small island in Sweden, she now lives in East Cork with her son, two dogs, a flock of rescue chickens and lots of bees. Hanna is the founder of Hanna’s Bees, producing a unique range of natural and sustainable honey, propolis, and beeswax products sold in Ireland’s leading Gift & Artisan food stores and select US outlets. With 70 colonies of Native Irish honeybees, she is a passionate bee-advocate and educator and is an Ambassador for the Native Irish Honeybee.
Curious about the world of bees and honey? Join our newsletter to learn something new each week.
Far more common than aggression, are bees that are defensive, agitated, disturbed, hungry, frightened, alarmed, stressed or restless. In dealing with a colony that appears aggressive, we must first figure out why they are acting or reacting the way they are. Only then can we deal with them appropriately.
If you’ve passed a hedgerow in August, you would not fail to notice that the blackberries. I love picking and eating handfuls of sun warmed blackberries while out beekeeping to keep the energy levels up. But did you know that Blackberries or brambles are extremely good for honey bees and other pollinators?
Bee-Splaining: The Truth About Imported honey – EU & Non-EU Honey
What’s the Buzz with Imported Honey: Is All Imported Honey Fake?
The short answer is: No.
The medium answer is: No, but you should be aware that a lot of imported honey is fake.
The long answer is the one that will give you a better understanding of what’s going on in the global honey industry, where honey is one of the most adulterated foods in the world. Yes, you read right: Honey is one of the most faked foods in the world. It often tops the global food fraud lists. A recent EU study showed nearly 50% of all honey imported into the EU was suspect. The US is the same, if not worse. So there’s real reason to be concerned.
EU Findings on Imported Honey Fraud
A major coordinated EU investigation, From the Hives (2021–2022), tested 320 imported honey samples. The study found that 46% were likely non-compliant with the EU Honey Directive. This marks a sharp rise from 14% in the previous 2015–2017 review.
The highest number of suspicious consignments came from China (74%), while Turkey had the highest proportion of adulterated samples (93%). Honey imported from the UK showed an even higher suspicion rate (100%). This was likely due to blending and re-exporting of non-EU honey.
Investigations uncovered the use of sugar syrups, colourants, and additives. They also found forged traceability data and removal of pollen to disguise origin. Authorities also found that some producers adjusted blends after laboratory analysis to evade detection before import. The findings strongly suggest that a significant portion of adulterated non-EU honey remains undetected on the EU market.
Sources: https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network/eu-coordinated-actions/honey-2021-2022_en
https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/food-fraud-how-genuine-your-honey-2023-03-23_en
Honey Fraud Explained: What Counts as Fake or Adulterated Honey
Adulterated honey is bulked with cheap syrups, colourants, and flavourings — not what bees made.
Many people eat honey not just for the taste and sweetness, but because we know that it is good for us. Honey is full of beneficial enzymes, pollen, propolis and antioxidants such as polyphenols which have anti-inflammatory effects.Real honey, that is. But this is obviously not true for honey that has been cut with sugars, syrups, flavourings and colourants. It may look like honey, but has none of the health benefits of real honey. So while you might reach for honey at the onset of a sore throat, cough or cold & flu, unless it is the real deal, it’s not likely to do more for you than a spoon of sugar.
Real Honey is made by Honeybees from plant nectar. Fake or adulterated honey is honey that has been replaced or diluted with cheaper sugar syrups derived from plants like sugar cane, corn, or rice. Colourants and flavourings have then been added to mimic the appearance and taste of genuine honey. These syrups bulk up the volume, making the ‘honey’ cheaper to produce than real honey made by real honeybees from real plant nectar.
It seems like daily that we read reports abound of fake imported ‘honey’ made from syrup with colourants and flavourings. As a honey producer and seller myself, I’m often offered very cheap honey in bulk from companies in countries known to be among the worst offenders for selling fake honey. The ‘honey’ is simply too cheap to be real. I understand how it could be tempting for some that just want to make money. Unfortunately, there are a lot of unscrupulous people why take advantage of this.
Processing of Imported Honey: Heating, Fine Filtering, and Lost Traceability
Overheating and ultra-filtering delay crystallisation and erase pollen — but also erase provenance.
Much of the imported honey undergoes extensive heating and filtering. Heating prevents granulation by melting the sugars, while fine filtering removes pollen. This process delays granulation and ensures the honey remains liquid for longer, but it also strips the honey of its unique properties and makes it impossible to trace its geographical origin.
Imported honey can come from anywhere. Some of the world’s top honey exporters are China, New Zealand, Argentina, Ukraine, Brazil and India. The issue with imported honey is not that it is imported. In fact, the demand for honey is so big that we need to import, especially in poor years for honey production such as this. Some imported honey is excellent and pure. The problem with imported honey is that there is no way of knowing which is real, and which is fake. This is because, at the point of importation, very little of it is tested to ascertain if it is real honey. Most tests carried out determines if the product is food-safe, but not to verify that it is real honey made by honeybees…
Are you enjoying reading this Bee-Splaining article? Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the next one!
Honey Imports: Limited Authenticity Testing
Food-safety checks are common, authenticity tests are not — letting adulterated honey through.
At the point of importation, very little of it is tested to ascertain if it is real honey. Most tests carried out determines if the product is food-safe, but not to verify that it is real honey made by honeybees.
EU Honey Labelling Regulations & Loopholes
“Blend of EU and Non-EU honey” hides ratios and origin — leaving consumers in the dark.
Once the honey has entered the EU or domestic market, it is blended and repackaged. If you look carefully at a jar of imported honey, you will often see the term: Blend of EU and Non-EU Honey. Usually in very small print on the lid. There is no requirement currently to state the ratio of EU and Non-EU honey on the label. This means that one of these blends could contain a minuscule amount of EU honey and a large proportion from countries with less stringent production standards.
The labelling of honey overall is very misleading, not just in Ireland but in the EU and beyond. Much of the imported honey sold on the supermarket shelves are sold by brands with very indigenous sounding names, with the label proclaiming that this or that family business has been keeping bees for generations etc. But if you read the small print, not one drop of honey in the jar is produced domestically.
Beekeepers in Europe have been lobbying to change the regulation. There are new regulations coming, but there are some loopholes in it. Hence, it could be a very long process before country of origin and blend ratios are clearly shown on the labels of imported honey. But, in my opinion, this is one of the best ways to ensure that what is in the jars is honey and the consumers are not getting tricked into buying fake honey.
If you are interested in what these new regulations look like, here is a link:
https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9534-eu-to-develop-new-traceability-requirements-to-tackle-honey-adulteration-revises-origin-labeling-rules
The Impact of Imported Honey on Beekeepers and Consumers
Cheap blends and misleading labels undercut genuine Irish producers and mislead shoppers.
Considering how much regulation is involved for beekeepers producing honey domestically, both here in Ireland, the rest of Europe and in the US, the lack of rigorous testing at the point of importation is ludicrous. It is allowing potentially adulterated honey to enter the market unchecked. Flooding the market and competing with beekeepers producing real honey. To add insult to injury, the labelling laws are so weak and flawed, that it is allowed to mislead consumers into believing that they are buying a domestic product, when in fact ALL the honey in the jar is imported.
This clever marketing ploy results in consumers believing that they are buying domestic honey in the supermarket at a much lower price than what the local beekeeper is charging, sometimes giving rise to local beekeepers being told that they are overcharging for their product when the customer can buy ‘the exact same honey for half the price in the supermarket…’
Supermarket “Squeezy Bottle” Honey, Organic Honey or Local Honey?
Price and presentation can be deceptive — origin and traceability matter more.
Many consumers who are aware of the issues with imported honey choose to instead buy Organic honey. However, as there is no organic honey produced in Ireland, this product too is imported. You can read more about why we don’t produce any organic honey in Ireland here: https://hannasbees.ie/irish-organic-honey/
So next time you’re in the supermarket choosing between that cheap squeezy bottle of honey of dubious origin, the imported organic honey, and the honey from the local beekeeper, which is pricier and has started to go a bit cloudy, ask yourself which is more likely to be real honey made by honeybees and not in some factory on the other side of the world. I think you know the answer.
Real honey isn’t cheap, and cheap honey isn’t real.
Did you enjoy reading this Bee-Splaining article? Sign up for our newsletter to make sure you don’t miss the next one!
Key Takeaways
Further Reading on Fake Honey
https://joint-research-centre.ec.europa.eu/jrc-news-and-updates/food-fraud-how-genuine-your-honey-2023-03-23_en
https://food.ec.europa.eu/food-safety/eu-agri-food-fraud-network/eu-coordinated-actions/honey-2021-2022_en
https://www.food-safety.com/articles/9534-eu-to-develop-new-traceability-requirements-to-tackle-honey-adulteration-revises-origin-labeling-rules
Hanna Bäckmo
Curious about the world of bees and honey? Join our newsletter to learn something new each week.
BEE-SPLAINING: Is It True You Should Never Use Metal Spoons with Honey?
Soft Set Honey – What is it & How is it Made?
BEE-SPLAINING: What is raw honey?
EU suspends honey imports from Brazil
Consumer guide to EU honey labelling regulations
Related Posts
Why Are Some Bees Aggressive?
Far more common than aggression, are bees that are defensive, agitated, disturbed, hungry, frightened, alarmed, stressed or restless. In dealing with a colony that appears aggressive, we must first figure out why they are acting or reacting the way they are. Only then can we deal with them appropriately.
Are Blackberry Brambles Good for Bees?
If you’ve passed a hedgerow in August, you would not fail to notice that the blackberries. I love picking and eating handfuls of sun warmed blackberries while out beekeeping to keep the energy levels up. But did you know that Blackberries or brambles are extremely good for honey bees and other pollinators?