Why is fake honey multiplying?
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The popularity of honey makes it a prime target for food fraud. As a result, jars sold as « pure honey » are actually diluted, modified, or even artificial. It’s a bit like buying wine cut with water or orange juice… without any oranges.
A sweet wave of deception is seeping into our honey jars. In France, nearly half of imported honey is believed to be fake. A 2023 European Commission investigation revealed that 46% of honey imported into the EU is fraudulent , often cut with cheap
sugar syrups made from rice, wheat, or beets.
In France, the situation is just as alarming: only 4 out of 21 samples analyzed were compliant , while 5 clearly fraudulent batches were intended for consumption in France.
This fraud often goes unnoticed , camouflaged behind vague statements on labels such as « mixture of honeys originating from the EU and non-EU » , a formulation so vague that it becomes complicit.
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Disguised syrup
Some manufacturers don’t hesitate to dilute honey with glucose-fructose syrup. This allows them to lower costs and increase production volumes. It’s like watering down coffee with sugar water… it looks good, but the taste and quality are lacking.
A rushed harvest
Honey is sometimes extracted before it has fully matured in the hives. As a result, it contains more water, ferments easily, and loses its nutritional value. It’s like a tomato picked too early: it’s there, but tasteless.
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Can you spot fake honey at home?
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Online, home remedies for detecting fake honey are proliferating . But how effective are they really? Here are a few, analyzed with a critical eye.
The towel test
Pure honey would not spread, unlike fake honey.
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Partially true: this can reflect a high water content, but some natural
honeys are more fluid. This test alone is not sufficient.
The hexagon test
Underwater, real honey supposedly forms honeycomb patterns.
False: there is no scientific basis for this.
Honey, pure or not, dissolves slowly, without any particular patterns.
Ants would hate real honey
They would flee from pure honey.
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Incorrect: ants like sugar, whether it is in natural honey or not.
The density test
Pure honey would be thicker, dissolve slowly, and form a stable air bubble.
Sometimes true: this can indicate good quality, but not all honeys have the same texture.
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The verdict: can we really trust our senses?
Unfortunately, none of these methods offers an absolute guarantee. Adulteration techniques have become so sophisticated that it is difficult to detect fake honey with the naked eye. Honey, like olive oil or milk, is among the foods most susceptible to counterfeiting .
How to choose a quality honey?
Here are some practical tips to avoid the pitfalls:
Read the labels carefully : avoid vague statements like « blend of honeys originating and not originating in the EU » .
Opt for short supply chains : buy directly from local beekeepers.
Look for reliable labels : such as IGP , Label Rouge or AB .
Beware of prices that are too low : quality honey has a cost, like any product resulting from artisanal know-how.
Honey is a natural treasure… but sometimes, this treasure is just a well-made imitation . Let’s remain vigilant, trust the beekeepers in our region, and ask questions. Because behind a simple jar of honey often lies a whole story about bees… or questionable practices.
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