Beechworth fights back against fake honey

The founder of Beechworth Honey, Jodie Goldsworthy, has been appointed as president of the Oceania Region of Apimondia, the Global Federation of Beekeepers’ Associations, and will help the association fight against honey adulteration.

While high-profile cases like the 2013 European horse meat scandal grab the headlines, it is food categories like olive oil, milk and honey that actually have the highest reported cases of food fraud. Food defence is becoming an increasing concern, with food commodities becoming a target for fraudulent practice such as substituting key ingredients for cheaper alternatives. The association has created a working group tasked to address the issue of adulteration and take steps to prevent it.

The global shortage in honey and honeybee products has resulted in a proliferation of fake honey which is undercutting global prices. The issue of adulterated honey entering the global market has sparked concern amongst health officials and the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has fined companies for importing products into Australia that claimed to be 100% bee honey, when they were mainly made from modified corn syrup. The fake honey is made in a laboratory and is cheaper to produce than real honey from bees, and beekeepers say they can’t compete on price.

“It’s great to see an organisation like Beechworth raising the profile of honey adulteration in Australia and across the globe,” said Marc Barnes, global director food at business standards company BSI. “By raising the profile they are ensuring there is a future livelihood for beekeepers across the world, as well as reducing health risks from potential undeclared ingredients that are being passed off as honey.”

Originally published here.