Peter Borst wrote:
>
> Now, honey is being sold as "USDA Certified Organic Honey"
>
>   

Actually it was being sold as USDA organic back when I posted. A 
Hawaiian company was labeling their honey that way and they were correct 
to do so.

I am not an expert in this so gladly yield the podium for those who are 
and equally accept correction. Here is how I understand it from reading 
the law.

The problem is in the USDA standard. It is a general standard for 
organic produce. As each commodity comes under its own standard, then 
that commodity must meet that (sometimes) more stringent standard. I 
have not been following the honey standard, but the problem was between 
the "purists" and the "practical" (read commercial). So, even if there 
is no standard for honey, as long as you meet the general standard for 
organic, you can label it as the law specifies.

If you trace through Brian's post you will see that there are 
certification agencies but that each has its own standard for honey, 
since there is no USDA standard. So you can get certified by the groups 
noted, or you can meet the USDA general standard. I would have to go 
back to the USDA law to see the wording but there is different label 
wording depending on how far you go and what you are doing. Plus, some 
might be mis-labeling their product. It can get confusing. So you can 
have "organic" honey that can meet the lax to stringent standards. If 
done properly, it will be labeled differently, but that will not 
register with the consumer who only sees "organic" and "USDA".

Generally, the organic people do not like the way the USDA is doing 
their job but the commercial people love it.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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