As a result of a recently-passed act, honey producers in Florida will no longer be allowed to alter their honey with additives such as water, sugar, or even insecticides. Prior to this regulation, honey producers were not required to label their bottles with the exact contents, and the product would often contain up to 51% additives. The new act ensures that honey that is either produced or sold in Florida will be 100% pure.

While the ban concentrates on the main source of impure honey products, those imported from other countries, it will ensure that all honey sold to Florida consumers is untainted. Honey from China is particularly susceptible to contamination, as tests in 2002 revealed that a selection of Chinese honey was contaminated with chloramphenicol, an additive that has not been approved by the USDA.

With this new regulation, which is the first of its kind in the country, companies or individuals who are found to be producing “adulterated” honey will be fined $500. A method for the detection of foreign substances in honey involves isotopic mass spectrometry. This process differentiates between the isotope of carbon found in the flowers from which bees obtain nectar, and the carbon found in plants that have been used as additives, such as sugar cane.

The collection and production of honey is a 13 million dollar industry in Florida, employing approximately 500 workers. Florida is the fourth largest honey producer in the country, trailing behind California, South Dakota, and North Dakota. Honey sales are not limited to the honey itself, as other items such as beeswax and pollen are also regularly sold for a variety of uses, including cooking and candle-making.

The Origins of Honey

Honey is a food source for bees and originates with the bees pollinating flowers and bringing nectar to their hives. Because the honey’s flavor varies with the type of flower from which the nectar was obtained, many types of honey exist. Popular Florida varieties include orange blossom, wildflower, and saw palmetto. Many people favor honey over other sweeteners because scientists have found evidence that honey contains antioxidants.

Unfortunately, bee colonies have experienced recent deterioration in Florida. Specialists suspect that this phenomenon has resulted from two factors. Parasites are invading the hives, and beekeepers theorize that the bees are transporting pesticide-laden nectar from other hives that had been sprayed to their own hive. Beekeepers are working hard to alleviate this problem by adding nutrients to hives and enacting controls over where bees may obtain nectar.

Bees are a valuable part of the ecosystem, acting as a primary means of pollination for many plants. Diminishing bee populations will have a detrimental effect on the ecosystem, so scientists assert that it is essential to solve the problems plaguing the bees.

Honey in Food

Because honey has been deemed nutritionally superior to other sugar products, many health experts recommend its use as a sugar substitute. A wide variety of dishes use honey as an ingredient, including honey-glazed ham and honey sweet-and-sour chicken. Additionally, honey can be added to bread, soups, and desserts. A recipe for Apple-Honey Crisp from honey.com is featured below:

Ingredients
For filling:
2 lbs. of apples, sliced thinly
½ cup honey
1 tsp. cinnamon
½ teaspoon nutmeg
For topping:
1 cup flour
¼ cup butter at room temperature
¼ cup honey

Directions:
Set the oven to 350°F. Mix apples, honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg together in a bowl. In a separate bowl, beat together the flour, honey, and butter until the mixture crumbles. Sprinkle this topping over the apple mixture in a pie or baking dish. Bake for 40-45 minutes. This dish can be served with ice cream.

Honey Suppliers

Honey is available at numerous locations throughout Florida. Many suppliers appear at outdoor festivals to sell their products, but honey can also be ordered. A compilation of Florida honey suppliers is included here: