Mike:

> This may be a stupid question but what is the legal difference between 
> 'straining' and 'filtering'? My dictionary lists those as synonyms.

You are quite right.  It is not the words that matter, but the effect on the 
honey.  Our regulations define filtered honey as:
'honey obtained by removing foreign inorganic or organic matters in such a 
way as to result in the significant removal of pollen'.   The can also be 
done by running honey through a very fine straining cloth, provided that the 
honey is warm and there is no granulation.

So it is the mesh size of the 'filter' or 'strainer' that is significant. 
Removing pollen is seen (correctly in my view) as degrading the product so 
that it can no longer be described just as 'honey' - it has to be described 
as 'filtered honey' and is placed in a similar class to 'baker's honey' 
(which is inferior because it has a high level of HMF).

Of course, the regulations do not suggest an appropriate mesh size - neither 
do they define 'significant'!  That, as our politicians always say when they 
have not thought legislation through properly, would be a matter for the 
courts to decide.
Best wishes

Peter Edwards
beekeepers at stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk
www.stratford-upon-avon.freeserve.co.uk/

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