K A S H R U T . C O M_©

Nearly half of honey in European markets is fake, according to EU investigation

March 27, 2023 - from eunews.culture:

"Nearly half of the honey imported into the European Union is suspected of being fake, according to an EU probe.

"The research, spearheaded by the European Commission’s Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) and the Joint Research Centre (JRC), revealed the massive fraud and that many may be buying counterfeit honey labelled as authentic.

"According to European Commission investigations, 320 samples were tested and 147 (46%) of collected samples of honey imports are suspected of being adulterated with syrups and therefore in non-compliance with the requirements of the EU Honey Directive. The honey is suspected to have been cut with sugar syrups made from rice, wheat or sugar beet.

"Most fake honey is brought from Turkey (93%) and China (74%).

"All the 10 honeys entered via the United Kingdom failed the tests and were marked “non-compliant

"The report indicates that honey imported from the UK had a suspicion rate of 100%, with the JRC suggesting that the honey may have been produced in other countries before being processed in the UK and re-exported to the EU.

"The main buyers of honey produced in the world are the United States and Europe."