In a shocking new study, seventy-six percent of the sticky, golden stuff sold as honey contains no sign of pollen, rendering its origins unable to be traced. Worse yet, it is often diluted with high-fructose corn syrup.

In fact, only a small handful of local or organic chains passed the test. Nearly 30% of supermarket honey labeled "organic" also was altered in a manner that hides its source. The main reason a company would disguise the origins of its honey is to get around an FDA ban on the importation of Chinese honey, which is often diluted with syrup and contains banned antibiotics and pesticides. This is a sick, cynical, and dangerous. If 150,000 of us sign this petition, we'll deliver it to the top grocery chains and force them to stop ignoring this issue.

Tell Safeway, Aldi, Kroger, Walmart and other grocers to remove fake, adulterated honey products from their stores.

The only reason that you would need to filter out the pollen from honey would be to disguise its origin to get around FDA restrictions on the importation of Chinese "honey" that is diluted with high-fructose corn syrup, and contains heavy metals, banned antibiotics, and carcinogenic pesticides.

According to Mark Jensen, head of the American Honey Producers Association, “In my judgment, it is pretty safe to assume that any ultra-filtered honey on store shelves is Chinese honey and it’s even safer to assume that it entered the country uninspected and in violation of federal law.”

This is consumer deception at its most basic level. The honey industry has undergone a boon recently as consumers move towards natural sweeteners, and big business is taking advantage of our wish to eat natural food, instead selling us cut-rate, fake "honey" while pocketing the profits. We need to send a clear message that we want real food, and real honey, on our shelves. Sign the petition today and make sure that your friends and family know about this shocking scam.

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More Information:

Your Honey Isn't Honey, Food Renegade, August 17, 2012

Tests show most store honey is fake, Food Safety Network, November 7, 2011