Honey is good for you, right?
Not necessarily. If it comes from China or India, and it’s contaminated with heavy metals, it poses a health risk. It’s been widely documented that some foreign honey contains lead. So you have to shop really carefully.
Is There Lead in Honey?
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That’s why I make sure to buy my USDA-certified organic honey from a trusted source. I wish I had a local source of raw organic honey. But I don’t. So I order mine online, and I trust this brand is just what is says it is. Americans have to be particularly careful.
The European Union has banned all honey from India. Oftentimes, it found, this “Indian” honey was first produced in China.
The United States, however, has not implemented such a crackdown. So it’s likely that questionable imported honey continues to flow freely into our country. Unfortunately, we cannot go into a grocery store and assume that a popular brand we see for sale is the real thing. We have to be cautious consumers.
Real Honey vs Fake Honey
According to one report, published in Food Safety News, much of the honey on supermarket shelves in America is probably derived from questionable sources.
Even worse, that thick, sweet golden liquid we assume is honey may be something entirely different. European officials have discovered that chemical sweeteners and other ingredients are used to make something resembling honey.
Another huge problem is that many samples tested showed no pollen. Somewhere along the line it was filtered, removing any ability to trace its source. Real honey that hasn’t been tampered with contains pollen.
Popular Honey Brands That May Be Toxic
Buying one of the popular brands probably offers little protection, according to the Food Safety News findings. It reported on unsuccessful attempts to contact one of the larger honey suppliers. (This is a brand I see in my local supermarket.)
As a journalist and former mainstream medical writer, I know that dodging press questions is a very bad sign. Every medium to large company has public relations people, or at least an agency to handle media inquiries. Under normal circumstances, this firm would probably love to bask in the limelight. Apparently, it must have something to hide.
Contaminated Honey From China
Since I don’t have much confidence in our regulatory agencies to keep our food safe, it falls upon each of us to research what’s going on, so we can make safe decisions for our family.
One option is purchasing your honey right from the source. If you know a local beekeeper who doesn’t use dangerous chemicals near the hives, and will sell you raw, unprocessed honey, you’ve found a gem. Unfortunately, it appears as if questionable honey, possibly from China, is widely found in supermarkets throughout the United States. Finding a local farmer you know and trust is the best way to assure you’re getting real honey.
There’s only one local honey source that I know of near my house. However, whenever I drive past the orchards, I smell pesticides from my car. I know this isn’t a good sign. Even organic farmers need to use some sort of non-toxic pesticide. Otherwise, the bugs will take over. But since I don’t want to eat the noxious chemicals I smell, I stay away from this farm. Instead, I order my honey online. And I’ve found a USDA certified organic brand I trust.
Pure Honey Brands
I don’t have a good local honey source. So I buy raw organic honey from Vitacost. This is a good alternative to the potentially dangerous brands sold at my local grocery store. Plus, I get free shipping because I bundle this honey with other discount Vitacost health items. Vitacost sells healthy and organic grocery items, usually for less than what I’d pay at the supermarket. So ordering honey from this company is very economical.
Raw Organic Honey Benefits
In its pure state, honey really is good for you. It’s filled with nutrients, antioxidants and anti-inflammatory compounds. It also contains antibacterial and antiviral agents. Honey can safely be called a superfood, and its value is increasingly appreciated by people interested in natural health.
Honey blends well with many herbal remedies. In Indian Ayurvedic medicine, honey and cinnamon is considered a cure all.
For More Reading
Fake Honey Brands on Supermarket Shelves
Disclaimer
These statements have not been approved by the FDA. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Children under one should not eat honey.
