Dear Bee folks,
 
   We've had a flood of unnatural looking "honey" in our produce stands this
year.  It is crystal clear, unnaturally light, and, except for sweet, totally
flavorless.  Most of it is labeled Sour Wood, which it, in no way resembles.
My suspicion is that it is 10 - 15% honey and the remainder corn syrup. Some
has a piece of "honeycomb" packed with it, which leads consumers to feel more
confident.  They don't realize that this can be produced by feeding corn
syrup to the bees. It is the whitest wax I've ever seen.
 
   This product looks similar to past products produced by an out-of-state
packer, who has been repeatedly cited for adulteration. This packer's label
has mostly disappeared.
 
   The label for the product in question does not identify the packer, but
says *packed for* and lists a wholesaler at the state farmers' market.
 
   Question:  Is there any regulation that requires identification of the
packer?   I understand federal regulations require identification of the
country of origin, which this label does not do either.
 
   I have asked the Department of Agriculture to test the "honey" for
sourwood pollen, and possible adulteration with corn syrup. Of course I have
requested this before, with no action taken that I know of.
 
   Is this kind of stuff showing up elsewhere?  Has anyone else gotten any
testing done.  Please let me know of the results if so.
 
   This has really hurt my sales at produce stands.  After all the work of
producing and packing a high quality product at marginal prices, it is really
galling to be out competed by products that are almost certainly
misrepresented, if not fraudulent.
 
[log in to unmask]                            Dave Green
PO Box 1215,   Hemingway,  SC  29554