This beekeeper in Michigan makes a bold claim.
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=300150231045&sspagename=ADME:X:RTQ:US:11
He/she, claims that and I quote "A lot of honey from large producers is cut with corn syrup. Not ours! Delicious, with Minimum filtering to preserve it's freshness and flavor."
That is a pretty bold statement to say that alot of honey from large producers is cut with corn syrup.
it is also correct.
Most commerical beekeepers feed their bees with HFCS. Per gallon it's cheaper than sugar water. When you are a commerical beekeeper profit margins are very slim. And if you can save money on what you feed your bees it helps your bottom line.
Finsky is also one who does not like the idea of creating honey from sugar water and HFCS. I don't feed my bees but I in a position where I don't have to.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
it does happen, besides most honey packers will merge honey from different countries and then might add HFCS, just like most stuff you see in stores that says Honey nut cheerios, honey BBQ sauce etc.... mixture = drop of honey and gallon of corn syrup and we can call it honey, (thats not exact but its a example)
I do understand that happens. I am not quite convinced the larger beekeepers feed their bees HFCS with the intent of having the bees convert it to a honey type substance. I know a few commercial Beeks. They dont do it.
I do understand the packers will do what they do. Some of which are borderline legal/ethical. Aren't they required by law to state if it is or is not 100% pure honey? I think I read that in a book somewhere.
Call Dadant and Mann Lake and ask them about the truckloads of HFCS they sell and to whom.
Also ask them about other HFCS distributors because there are more places to by HFCS than just Mann Lake and Dadant.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
Dude I know Beeks use HFCS. Generally it is used to feed the bees in the spring and fall during the dearths. Besides if any shady activities are going on, they would be the last to tell you.
BTW the Commercial Beeks here probably will no longer use HFCS. A study done in Texas shows it greatly declines the lifespan of worker bees.
So if the argument is the commercial beeks buying truck loads of HFCS to generate honey, does that also mean that us small beeks are using sugar water to generate honey???
We all use sugar water to feed our bees during times of need....
Quote from: BMAC on September 18, 2007, 11:41:02 AM
So if the argument is the commercial beeks buying truck loads of HFCS to generate honey, does that also mean that us small beeks are using sugar water to generate honey???
Wellllll....... Not deliberately. But yes if you feed massive amounts of sugar water, more than they can consume, doesn't it stand to reason they mix it with the rest of their stores? Mine hasn't had any sugar in a long time, last years drought, and not very much then.
Quote from: BMAC on September 18, 2007, 11:41:02 AM
Dude I know Beeks use HFCS. Generally it is used to feed the bees in the spring and fall during the dearths. Besides if any shady activities are going on, they would be the last to tell you.
BTW the Commercial Beeks here probably will no longer use HFCS. A study done in Texas shows it greatly declines the lifespan of worker bees.
So if the argument is the commercial beeks buying truck loads of HFCS to generate honey, does that also mean that us small beeks are using sugar water to generate honey???
We all use sugar water to feed our bees during times of need....
Yes, small beekeepers are using sugar water to build up honey stores. In some cases out of ignorance. In others out of need.
I understand feeding nucs to buid up strength and feeding during the dreath but to feed a strong hive in the middle of a flow isn't needed. But beekeepers do it all the time. It can also be a factor on which crop they are near. I hear beekeepers complain about having to feed bees when in strawberry fields. Because the bees can pollinate the fields but get next to no nectar.
But beekeepers will feed if the flow isn't as heavy as expected so as to increase yields.
I have decided I will ask one of the biggies. I have put a call into Sue Bee Honey (712) 258-0638 (Brian in the Lab) and find out how much HFCS they purchase and when they use it and if the commerial products (BBQ sauce, etc.) all come from 100% pure flow honey. I may not get the truth but I will get an answer. By the way Sue Bee honey considers itself a co-op not a commerical operation. I did n't know that until I made the call.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/txcodes/ag013100.html
Texas Agriculture Code
CHAPTER 131. BEES AND HONEY
SUBCHAPTER E. LABELING AND SALE OF HONEY
§ 131.081. Use of "Honey" on Label
A person may not label, sell, or keep, offer, or expose for sale a product identified on its label as "honey," "liquid or extracted honey," "strained honey," or "pure honey" unless the product consists exclusively of pure honey.
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.
§ 131.082. Use of Bee, Hive, or Comb Design
A person may not label, sell, or keep, expose, or offer for sale a product that resembles honey and that has on its label a picture or drawing of a bee, hive, or comb unless the product consists exclusively of pure honey.
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.
§ 131.083. Sale of Imitation Honey
A person may not label, sell, or keep, expose, or offer for sale a product that resembles honey and is identified on its label as "imitation honey."
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.
§ 131.084. Sale of Honey Mixtures
(a) A person may not label, sell, or keep, expose, or offer for sale a product that consists of honey mixed with another ingredient unless:
(1) the product bears a label with a list of ingredients; and
(2) "honey" appears in the list of ingredients in the same size type of print as the other ingredients.
(b) A person may not label, sell, or keep, expose, or offer for sale a product that contains honey mixed with another ingredient and contains in the product name "honey" in a larger size of type or print or in a more prominent position than the other words in the product name.
Amended by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1983.
Quote from: Understudy on September 18, 2007, 12:21:17 PM
Yes, small beekeepers are using sugar water to build up honey stores. In some cases out of ignorance. In others out of need.
I understand feeding nucs to buid up strength and feeding during the dreath but to feed a strong hive in the middle of a flow isn't needed. But beekeepers do it all the time. It can also be a factor on which crop they are near. I hear beekeepers complain about having to feed bees when in strawberry fields. Because the bees can pollinate the fields but get next to no nectar.
But beekeepers will feed if the flow isn't as heavy as expected so as to increase yields.
I have decided I will ask one of the biggies. I have put a call into Sue Bee Honey (712) 258-0638 (Brian in the Lab) and find out how much HFCS they purchase and when they use it and if the commerial products (BBQ sauce, etc.) all come from 100% pure flow honey. I may not get the truth but I will get an answer. By the way Sue Bee honey considers itself a co-op not a commerical operation. I did n't know that until I made the call.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
That is pretty cool. Let us know what they say. I dont know any beeks that feed during a flow less they are just starting with nothing and want the bees to draw comb. The ones I have known to draw comb with sugar water stop feeding when the supers are added (if they are added). I completely understand what your point is, I guess my point is I find it tasteless for someone to throw stones at another beekeeper to make a buck.....I consider that to be an ethical issue along with those who feed their bees HFCS with the intent to growing their yield.
I didn't think Sue Bee had any hives of their own.
I think Sue Bee sells an aweful lot of beekeeping supplies. Not sure, but I always see their add in the ABJ for honey and pollen.
The best way to prevent/tell if the syrup you are feeding your bees ends up in your honey in any significant quantity is to color it with food coloring.
I was in KFC two weekends ago and got a packet of "honey" for my biscuit.
I was surprised to find that honey was actually ingredient number 5 or so after corn syrup, water, sugar and another form of sugar.
Some people don't cut their honey with corn syrup, they cut their sugar water with honey.
Quote from: Robo on September 18, 2007, 02:17:28 PM
The best way to prevent/tell if the syrup you are feeding your bees ends up in your honey in any significant quantity is to color it with food coloring.
i have thought of trying it but...i think bees mix up things so i'm afraid i'd end up with blueish honey, although there would be neglectable ammount of over-wintering left food.
Quote from: thomashton on September 18, 2007, 03:15:02 PM
I was in KFC two weekends ago and got a packet of "honey" for my biscuit.
I was surprised to find that honey was actually ingredient number 5 or so after corn syrup, water, sugar and another form of sugar.
Some people don't cut their honey with corn syrup, they cut their sugar water with honey.
I saw the same thing. I was in McDonalds a few days ago and asked for honey for chicken nuggets. To my surprise, it said "Pure Honey" with no other label. I would think they would need to label it otherwise if it was not pure. Good job McDonalds in this case.
Correction...KFC doesn't have honey. They have "honey sauce" :roll:. That is what the label says. If I need any sweetener on my biscuits, I just ask them for "that crap".
-r
I think Starbucks packets state 100% Pure Honey. That is if memory serves me well.
Then again it may not.
Brian at Sue Bee and I are playing phone tag he called me while I was on the plane. He was at a meeting when I called back. Will try again tomorrow.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
Absolutely let us know how that turns out Brendhan. I am very curious.
Okay this is what happened. I was put in contact with Mary Mallett, apparently the first person Brian I had was wrong or I couldn't hear the message correctly. Anyway Mary was very kind and spent a lot of time with me. It was all very helpful. Because of it I may have to change my opinion in my original response.
Also this was an over the phone conversation so exact quotes aren't happening and I assume responsiblity for any errors.
Recently some honey was placed on ebay in the listing the person selling it mentioned that a lot of honey from large producers is cut with corn syrup. Is this true?
No.
She went on to explain that many beekeepers feed HFCS or sugar water during a dearth or before a flow. But that the feeders should be removed before the flow. Also bees prefer real nectar to HFCS and sugar water. However beekeepers that leave the jars on to long may end up with honey that is a mixed with honey made by the bees that have been eating the HFCS.
If this happens the level of HFMs (ed note. I may have that acronym wrong) in the honey go up. This is one method her lab uses to check the honey.
Large farm beekeepers will use up a truckload of HFCS with no problem during a dearth and when trying to build strenth before the flow.
Pure Honey or Raw Honey is suppose to have a very low level of HFMs because a certain low level of HFMs occur in honey naturally.
Honey can be cut with HFCS in a manufacturing process that is common when honey is added to something such as BBQ sauce or similar.
This is also a process of manufacturing a different product that contains honey but honey is not the sole product.
Honey sold in stores that is not pure must be labeled differently.
Honey that is filtered must be labeled differently. Straining honey is not the same as filtered honey. You can still have raw honey and run it through a strainer. When you filter it you have removed the pollen and other items that would pass through normal strain methods. You can heat raw honey just don't burn it.
Honey that comes from outside the US must contain the top 7 countries that are used in the mix. Greatest percentage to lowest percentage.
So with that the Ebay ad is incorrect. And I was also. But today I learned something.
Sincerely,
Brendhan
So now we can conclude that Beek in Mi is actually straight up lying to make a buck. Hmmm
I know other snakes like that too. I think it is those types of Beeks that give alot of Beeks a bad name.