Glossary
An overview of the regulations governing honey labeling in the United States, covering FDA requirements, USDA grading standards, and the legal definitions (or lack thereof) of common label terms like raw, pure, natural, organic, and unfiltered.
The FDA considers honey a single-ingredient food. The ingredient list needs only state honey. The label must include: the common name (honey), net weight, name and address of the manufacturer/packer/distributor, and nutrition facts panel. Country of origin is required if imported.
In 2018, the FDA published draft guidance (not yet finalized) defining honey as a food produced by honey bees from the nectar of plants or secretions of living parts of plants, which the bees collect, transform, and store, and proposing that the term honey should not be used for products adulterated with added sugars, corn syrup, or other sweeteners.
Raw: no federal legal definition. Generally understood to mean unheated and minimally processed. Since there is no standard, raw honey can mean different things from different producers. Pure: means the product contains only honey (no added ingredients), but says nothing about processing. A heavily filtered, heated honey can legally be labeled pure.
Organic: requires USDA organic certification, which is extremely difficult for U.S. beekeepers because it requires demonstrating that bees forage only on organically managed land within their flight range (2-3 miles). Most organic honey sold in the U.S. is imported from countries with different certification standards.
In the United States, there is no federal legal definition of raw honey. Some states have adopted definitions (typically meaning not heated above 118 degrees Fahrenheit), but there is no uniform national standard. This lack of definition allows inconsistent use of the term.
USDA grading (Grade A, B, C, Substandard) is voluntary and based on moisture content, defects, flavor, and clarity. Grade A is the highest quality. Most honey sold at retail is not officially graded because USDA grading requires paid inspection. The absence of a grade does not indicate lower quality.
Yes, with USDA organic certification. However, organic honey certification requires proving that the bees' forage area (2-3 mile radius) is free of prohibited pesticides and on organic land. This is extremely difficult in the U.S. Most organic honey on U.S. shelves is imported from Brazil, Mexico, or other countries.
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