The world of honey has always been a symbol of purity and the hard work of nature’s most industrious creatures—bees. However, this purity is now under threat, with rising concerns about honey adulteration infiltrating the market. In addressing this vital issue, B4 is supporting a petition to ensure that real British honey continues to be part of our lives and that the future of British honey is secure.
Why This Petition Matters
In October 2024, reports emerged[1] (video shown here) highlighting the extent of honey adulteration in the UK market. Techniques like DNA analysis have been identified as gold standards for identifying whether honey has been mixed with other substances, such as sugar syrups. Unfortunately, these testing methods are not widely adopted in the UK. Without proper oversight, the authenticity of honey is at risk, undermining trust in the market and threatening beekeepers who pride themselves on their high-quality products.
The petition, now live on the UK Parliament’s website, calls for mandatory implementation of DNA testing for imported honey to ensure that what’s being sold as “honey” is exactly that. Reaching 100,000 signatures can make a petition a catalyst for parliamentary debate, which is one way to draw attention to a pressing issue and make the issue the focus of public discussion.
The Challenges and Concerns
While the petition aims to target imported honey, some organizations have raised concerns. Their concern centres on the potential financial burdens that could be placed on small beekeepers if DNA testing were to be applied across the board. Let us be absolutely clear: this petition does not aim to saddle local beekeepers with additional costs. Its principal target is the imported honey, which is responsible for most of the adulteration we see in the market.
As Gerry Stuart, one of the trustees of HAN UK (Honey Authenticity Network UK) and Vice Chair of Torbay Beekeepers, highlighted during the latest B4 Board meeting, the public’s awareness is critical. “People are outraged that they’re buying honey that isn’t real honey,” he said, stressing the importance of educating consumers and encouraging them to support local, verified honey producers.
How Does DNA Testing Fit In?
Tracing the purity and provenance of honey is an essential part of moves to protect it from honey adulteration. DNA testing is proving to be a reliable way to do this. However, it is not the only solution we need to rely on. We must also ensure that honey is accurately and clearly labelled, procure stronger regulatory oversight, and educate consumers to understand what they are buying.
Clear and accurate labelling, honest beekeeper regulatory oversight, and consumer edification combine with DNA testing to form the front line against honey fraud. “When people understand the issue, they’re more likely to choose genuine honey from trusted sources, which helps reduce the demand for adulterated products.", Gerry said.
How B4 is Taking Action
B4 believes this issue goes beyond honey; it’s about fairness, transparency, and protecting an industry vital to our ecosystem. Here’s what we’re doing:
Promoting the Petition: We’re rallying our members and the wider public to sign and share the petition. Every signature counts toward pushing this issue onto the parliamentary agenda.
Public Awareness Campaigns: We're using our website, social media, and forthcoming events to call attention to the threats posed by honey adulteration. Cost-cutting practices that some companies use endanger bee populations, and the healthful, life-sustaining properties of honey are preserved only when honey is pure.
Collaborating with Stakeholders: We are working together with many different partners, including local beekeeping associations and consumer advocacy groups, to build a clear and coherent platform of demand.
How You Can Help
Sign the Petition: Add your voice to the fast-growing number of concerned citizens by visiting the petition link: https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/702077
Spread the Word: Share the petition on social media, in your communities, and with friends and family.
Support Local Beekeepers: Purchasing honey from nearby producers allows you to indulge in the truly genuine, high-quality stuff—while also supporting the kind of beekeeping that maintains healthy bee populations.
The Road Ahead
We know this journey won’t be easy. As Gerry noted, there’s still a long way to go in holding large-scale producers accountable and encouraging the government to prioritize this issue. But we think that with your support, we can make that path a little easier to travel and ensure that every jar of honey on sale in the UK lives up to its name.
Sign the petition today and help us protect the integrity of British honey and the beekeeping industry we all hold dear.
Richard Senior, a Director of The B4 Project CIC
The video exposes significant gaps in the UK's approach to protecting consumers from fake honey. Unlike the EU, which relies on advanced testing methods like Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA) to detect adulterated honey, the UK does not mandate such rigorous testing. This lax regulation allows cheaper, counterfeit honey—often sugar syrups or blends of low-quality honey from sources like Vietnam and China—to flood the UK market. Producers and traders openly exploit these weaker standards, blending honey with syrups or other non-authentic ingredients to meet market demands while avoiding detection. As a result, UK consumers unknowingly purchase substandard products labelled as honey, undercutting genuine beekeepers and damaging the integrity of the honey industry.
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