Honey Industry Promotes 'True Source Certified' Logo to Combat Illegal Honey Imports
U.S. honey consumers should look for labeling that identifies honey as "True Source Certified" as a way to know the honey is coming from reputable sources, said True Source Honey in a press release. True Source, a joint "effort by a number of honey companies and importers to call attention to the problem of illegally sourced honey," provides third-party audits that certify the source of honey, it said.
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The True Source Certified logo "tells you that the honey you’re buying was ethically and legally sourced," said Randy Verhoek, president of the American Honey Producers Association. "If you don’t see the logo, ask your retailer or honey company to join the program. And make sure that your favorite foods that feature honey -- from breakfast cereals to snacks -- are made by a food manufacturer who purchases honey from a True Source Certified honey company." The True Source campaign comes in response to an influx of illegally imported Chinese honey that "threatens the U.S. honey industry by undercutting fair market prices and damaging honey's reputation for quality and safety."
According to the group, "seven honey companies and a number of importers and international exporters are now True Source Certified or registered, representing about one-third of honey sold in North America. "Many of the largest grocery retailers and club stores now only use certified honey for their store brands, including Costco (Kirkland Signature) and Target (Market Pantry and Simply Balanced)." Some 60 percent of honey in the U.S. is imported, most of which comes from quality and legal sources, the group said. Still, some "honey brokers and importers illegally circumvent tariffs and quality controls, selling honey to U.S. companies that is of questionable origin," it said. Concern for the honey industry has even garnered Congressional attention, with the Senate Customs Reauthorization bill including provisions meant to address the issue (see 13062114).