Betty McAdam asks about how honey is labeled in the US.

Its been some time since I read the federal regulations so I can't quote
them but I do know that Washington State requires that the ingredients be
written on the label in order of their quantity in the container.  It also
requires the label to indicate the presence of foreign honey in the
container.

Thus if the container contains honey, corn syrup, Mexican (or other
countries') honey, bits of fruit or other substance, these must appear on
the label.  In addition if the container contains honey and corn syrup it
can't be sold as honey.  Or, if the container contains honey and bits of
apple, prunes, apricots or other fruits it can't be sold as honey.  It may
be labeled as a honey/fruit blend, a honey/fruit topping or some other such
description.  Truth in labeling is a serious issue for consumer protection.

We had some honey sold in the state as apple honey, apricot honey, because
these fruit trees bloom and the retailer wanted to capitalize on the famous
Washington apple industry.  Fruit trees do not produce any surplus honey,
instead the bees use up this nectar to raise brood in the spring.  Another
retailer was packing honey with apple and other fruit bits as apple honey,
prune honey etc.  Both retailers were told that they were not in compliance
with truth in labeling laws and were required to change their labeling.

James C. Bach
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