Hello All,

On 18 April Bill Truesdell wrote: "It does not matter if it [antibiotic] is
in ppm or ppb. Why is it there in the first place?"

Robin said:
The 'why' has been a concern to UK beekeepers.  Antibiotics imply teatment
for disaese - which ones, and how is the anti administered?

Many USDA people report China is puzzled about the source of the
contamination.

I guess the source of contamination of the whole honey production of a
country might be hard to determine. I don't think so!


Several beekeepers have told me the antibiotic was used in the production of
beet sugar and then the beet sugar product was feed to the bees as feed and
caused the contamination (* not verifiable information and only gleaned by
beekeeper talk at national bee meetings*).

I am really surprised  the beekeeping world has not been given direct
information by the Chinese as to the source of the contamination . I am also
surprised the bee labs have not commented on how the antibiotic came to be
found in honey. All the USDA people have said at talks I have attended  that
the antibiotic was found and they did not see a hive treatment with the
antibiotic would  cure foulbrood or any other *known* bee problem.

Bob

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