Glossary
Honey that has been intentionally diluted, blended with cheaper sweeteners like corn syrup, rice syrup, or sugar water, or otherwise modified to increase volume and reduce production costs. Honey adulteration is a widespread global problem estimated to affect up to 75 percent of commercial honey sold in some markets.
Honey is the third most counterfeited food product in the world, behind olive oil and milk. The economics are simple: pure honey costs significantly more to produce than corn syrup or rice syrup, so blending in cheap sweeteners increases profit margins dramatically. Some producers go further, creating entirely synthetic honey from sugar syrups with added color and flavor.
Ultra-filtering is another form of adulteration that removes all pollen from honey, making it impossible to trace the honey's geographic or floral origin. This technique is commonly used to disguise the true source of imported honey and circumvent import tariffs.
The most reliable way to get genuine honey is to buy directly from a local beekeeper whose operation you can verify. When you buy from Goodfriend Honey Co., you are getting honey from hives we manage ourselves in Bradenton, Florida. There is no middleman, no blending facility, and no opportunity for adulteration.
If buying from a store, look for honey that is labeled with a specific floral source and geographic origin, is raw and unfiltered (containing visible pollen particles), and comes from a named producer rather than a generic brand. These characteristics are difficult and unprofitable to fake.
Studies have found that a significant percentage of commercial honey, particularly imported honey, has been adulterated or ultra-filtered. A 2011 Food Safety News investigation found that 76 percent of grocery store honey had been ultra-filtered to remove all pollen.
Sometimes. Adulterated honey often tastes one-dimensional, lacking the complex floral notes, slight bitterness, and aromatic qualities of pure honey. However, sophisticated adulteration can be difficult to detect by taste alone, which is why lab testing is the gold standard.
Technically, ultra-filtered honey still contains honey, but the process removes pollen and many beneficial compounds. The FDA states that honey without pollen cannot be classified as honey. Ultra-filtering is primarily used to obscure geographic origin.
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