Just because it taste like honey doesn't mean it's actual honey.
The Food and Drug Administration said Tuesday that new guidelines would prevent food companies from adding sugar or other sweeteners to pure honey and continue calling it "Honey." Manufactures that do not add sugar, corn syrup or other sweeteners should label their products as "pure honey."
The guidelines require companies to list added ingredients if their product contains more than just honey. The agency said that the label should read "blend of sugar and honey" or "blend of honey and corn syrup" if sweeteners are added.
Action will be taken against U.S. food businesses or importers if they are found adding sweeteners into real honey and not labeling the product correctly. Pure honey is more expensive than mixed honey.
"Consumers would know what the food is and what the food contains by reading the label," the agency explained in the draft guidance. "A properly labeled package of only honey would show the name of the food as 'honey,' and it would not need an ingredient statement because it would only contain one ingredient. In comparison, a properly labeled package of a blend of honey and a sweetener would have a name such as 'blend of honey and sugar' (likewise, 'blend of honey and corn syrup') and an ingredient statement that lists each ingredient, such as 'honey' and 'sugar' (likewise, 'honey' and 'corn syrup')."
The proposal aims "to advise the regulated food industry on the proper labeling of honey and honey products to help ensure that honey and honey products are not adulterated or misbranded." On a regular basis the FDA detains honey imports and tests the product "after finding drug residues and unlabeled added sweeteners."
According to U.S. Government and Industry Estimates, Americans consume more than 400 million pounds of honey each year. Last year, 149 million pounds were produced in the United States. In 2012 to 2013, there was an increase from 54 percent to 70 percent in consumers who purchased honey.
Before final guidelines are issued manufacturers have 60 days to response to the proposal.
