Rick Mumford from the FSA explores the honey supply chain and the unique issues that can put it at risk of food fraud. Honey is a natural complex mixture of different sugars produced entirely by bees, with nothing added or taken away. It’s on breakfast tables across the country, ready to be stirred into porridge or poured onto yogurt, but how do you know that the honey you’re spreading onto your toast is genuine?
There are strict laws in place which set high standards for the composition and labelling of honey products on sale in the UK. Local authorities are responsible for the enforcement of food law and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) issues advice to ensure consistency in approach across the country.
The risk of honey fraud
While there is no evidence that any honey on sale in the UK is unsafe, it is a product that can be at risk of fraud. Products which declare a premium status, have a high price by weight, have complex supply chains or are subject to a spike in demand, can be particularly vulnerable to fraudsters.