The Proliferation of Fake Honey Brands in the Philippines is Appalling

Many Filipinos know that honey is a natural sweetener and that it has healing and nutritional properties. What they don’t know is that there are lots of fake honey brands being sold in the Philippines. Most of these are usually cheap-priced fake honey since they are easier to produce compared to pure honey.

The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) warned the public that 82% of our honey is adulterated. This was based on a study revealed last December 9, 2020, conducted online during the Atomic Energy Week of the DOST-PNRI Conference.

Furthermore, the researchers tested various honey brands using the internal standard stable carbon isotope ratio analysis or Iscira. The nuclear-based test showed 62 adulterated honey products out of 76.

“These products were purely C4 sugar syrup. Composed of 95% syrups made from sugarcane and corn. These are artificial honey syrups and not adulterated honey.” — According to DOST-PNRI’s Dr. Angel T. Bautista VII

Even more shocking was that these “fake honey products” are everywhere, from souvenir shops, supermarkets, groceries, and even online shops.

Unscrupulous companies manufacture honey to boost their income at minimal production costs.

“12 out of 16 or 75% of local honey brands sold in brick-and-mortar shops are not pure honey. An overwhelming 87% or 64 out of 74 faked honey products sold online. In addition, none of the 41 imported honey products marketed in local stores were adulterated.” — Dr. Bautista explained

The DOST-PNRI Research Team was composed of Bautista, Norman Mendoza, Marco Lao, and retired UP Professor Cleofas Cervancia, also with DOST-PNRI.

The proliferation of fake honey brands in the Philippines is appalling.

“The problem is that people are being fooled. You may be buying honey for its wonderful health benefits, but because of adulteration, you may just be buying pure sugar syrup. Consuming too much pure sugar syrup can lead to harmful health effects.” — Dr. Bautista further revealed

How it Affects the Industry

Obviously, these controversial results can negatively affect the local beekeeping industry. It can drag down the cost of honey to their detriment. Legitimate beekeepers have been complaining about this unrelenting production and trade of counterfeit honey products.

“Imagine the lost incomes due to adulteration and fraud that’s supposedly for our honest beekeepers and honey producers. It is affecting our local honey industry so badly that we estimate that they are losing PhP200 million per year,” — Dr. Bautista reported

Pure honey is a natural sweetener that comes from bees. Indeed, it has a lot of health benefits. It is rich in nutrients, minerals, antioxidants, and enzymes. Manufacturers claiming to sell Pure Honey should not add food additives to their products. The Philippine National Standard for Honey requires them to declare any added substance on the label.

Since one of the most commonly faked products is honey, the study confirmed this unpleasant practice using the stable carbon isotope ratio analysis.

“The carbon-13 signature is like a fingerprint of honey and common adulterants like sugarcane and corn are completely different from each other. Therefore, we can differentiate one from the other. This unique isotopic signature is what we are using to tell if honey is authentic or fake.” — Dr. Bautista

The DOST-PNRI team forwarded the results of their findings to the Food and Drug Administration.

“If we release the names of the companies, they may stop for a while. But no one can stop them from faking honey again in the future. If we incorporate these isotope-based standards into our regulatory system and the Philippine National Standards, then we think it will be a long-lasting solution to this problem,”— Dr. Bautista Added

Ways to Test Pure Honey

Now, is there any way of knowing if the honey is pure? Without the use of sophisticated devices, you can examine the physical properties of the honey. Below are some of the tips that you can consider.

What is in the Honey label?

Check where does it come from and if it’s a trusted or known brand. Next, read the ingredient list. Check for “added flavors” or other ingredients. It should only list “honey”. It increases the chances that it has no additives or unwanted substances.

Does real honey dissolve in water?

Another way is to test honey in water. Pure honey doesn’t dissolve in water easily. When you add the honey to the water, it will settle at the button of the glass. It will only dissolve in water when you stir it well. This is because pure honey has a more dense texture. However, adulterated or artificial honey gets dissolved with water easily.

What is the color of pure honey?

Honey colors range from colorless to dark. One of the reasons honey has different varieties of color is due to its floral source and crystalization process. The color of honey does not actually determine whether it is pure or fake. You cannot actually tell. However, if the honey crystallizes, you can tell that the honey you bought is pure.

Does pure honey freeze in the fridge?

Pure honey doesn’t actually freeze. This is due to the fact that honey is made up of natural sugar and not water. When you place honey in the freezer, of course it will harden but it will not freeze.

Moreover, learn the other ways to check pure honey at home. This will help you identify whether the honey you have is genuine or counterfeit.

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Thinking about where to buy pure honey?

One of the pure honey brands in the Philippines is Honeys.PH’s Mt. Apo Honey. Enjoy the amazing health benefits of our 100% bee-produced honey products. Guaranteed that our products’ quality is with all the goodness of pure, raw, and unadulterated honey from the mountains of Davao City, Philippines. Walang halo at hindi niluto!