State standard for honey discussed
The state’s honeybee industry was the focus of an Agriculture Committee hearing in Grand Island Aug. 27.
LR426, introduced by Fullerton Sen. Annette Dubas during the latest legislative session, directs the committee to conduct an interim study of rules and regulations administered by the state Department of Agriculture relating to the honeybee industry. The resolution also calls for examination of federal and state definitions of honey.
Dubas said a lack of standardization in honey industry has eroded consumers’ understanding of the commodity. Many products represented as honey actually are adulterated honey or use no honey at all, she said.
Keith Nielson of Polk said some of the honey imported into the state contains high fructose corn syrup. He said those selling a tainted product put producers of pure honey at a disadvantage and misrepresent the honey industry.
“It is not fair to our industry to have a product labeled as honey that is not pure honey,” Nielson said.
Dubas said one of the largest honey packers in Michigan was sued for adulterating honey, but the court said there was no definition of honey to which the business had to adhere.
After an effort led by five of the major honey trade groups failed to persuade the federal Food and Drug Administration to adopt an international standard for honey, the American Beekeeping Federation, American Honey Producers Association and producers began a campaign to adopt state standards, Dubas said.
Adopting state standards would help persuade the federal government to take action, she said, while giving producers standing in court to take civil action against those marketing adulterated honey as honey.
Warren Nelson of Lincoln said more than 60 percent of the honey sold in the U.S. is from China, which he said cheapens the price and makes it difficult for honey producers to get a fair return. Much of this product has been tainted with antibiotics that are not approved for use in the U.S., he added.
The committee will release a report of its findings at the conclusion of its study.
