K A S H R U T . C O M_©

The following information is from the Food Safety News posted on August 16, 2011.

Asian Honey, Banned in Europe, Is Flooding U.S. Grocery Shelves
"A third or more of all the honey consumed in the U.S. is likely to have been smuggled in from China and may be tainted with illegal antibiotics and heavy metals. A Food Safety News investigation has documented that millions of pounds of honey banned as unsafe in dozens of countries are being imported and sold here in record quantities. " The Chinese honey may contain chloramphenicol a banned antibiotic, or lead. The Chinese are also mixing sugar water, malt sweeteners, corn or rice syrup, jaggery, barley malt sweetener or other additives with a bit of actual honey. In recent years, many Chinese shippers have eliminated the honey completely and just use thickened, colored, natural or chemical sweeteners labeled as honey. This "honey" is currently transshipped to India or Vietnam, labels changed and then shipped to the US. Food Safety News reported that there are 12 major honey packers in the U.S. and four or five that are involved with the bulk of illegal trade. Until the FDA or industry stops this practice it seems that it will continue because it is financially advantageous to do so.