Here’s another study showing AFB spores in honey sampled from hives. What I can’t find in the literature is research that establishes the link between contaminated honey and infection as a result of importation.  Chris’ example from the U.K. is a theory and anecdotal, nothing more…

I. Derakhshifar. 1994. “Occurrence of Bacillus larvae spores in Austrian honeys.” Apidologie. 25(5):475-476.
 
“The examination was made on 68 Austrian honeys especially from beekeepers with few colonies (method according to Hansen and Rasmussen, 1984). In 62% of the honey samples Bacillus larvae spores were found. In 25% of the contaminated honeys the beekeeper reported some clinical symptoms in the colonies. No obvious signs of American foulbrood were found in 50% of the colonies, although the honey was contaminated with spores. The number of apiaries with clinical symptoms increased with increasing number of spores in honey….”

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