>>Some of the "chemicals" are not soluble in water or honey but they 
do end up in wax.. ...they would not last long in nectar or honey. so 
if the called for times were followed, the residue would be near zero 
before the supers went on.

Zero residue...  What do Apistan & Checkmite in honey break down 
into?  Nothing is lost in nature and I'd question of the break-down 
products are healthy.

[Apistan and Checkmite issue out of wax over a long time given the 
reports of frequent queen supercedures in hives treated with these 
preparations and the expert recommendations to recycle the nest wax 
in treated wax every 3 years.  Previously treated colonies moved onto 
fresh wax regain their vitality.]

>>You even allow antibiotics, but again, with a time after treatment 
before supers can be put on. In this area, I think the US time is much
too short. I do not use them.  ... I think antibiotics could end up 
in honey. 

I agree with this. Do you think there is a safe period for TM 
dissipation?

>>It all gets back to the question, is organic honey purer than off 
the shelf honey? So far the answer is no, which means all the honey 
producers are following label directions.

Since a lot beekeepers are using TM preventitively, the answer is no 
no.  In addition to purity, there is also the viability of enzymes, 
pollens etc. in honey.  Pasturized honey on the supermarket shelf has 
less viability.  Do organic rules allow for honey to be pasturized?  
The only honey for me is raw honey.

You may argue that the difference between the two types of honey are 
negligible but you can't make the argument that they are the same.

The other thing I would like to know more about is HMF.  Why do 
[some?] European countries specify an HMF limit in honey?  HMF is 
harmful to bees but is it harmful to humans?

Waldemar 

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