In Europe, the honey market is in turmoil. Recent studies show that nearly half of imported honey is adulterated with cheap sugar syrups. The EU is responding with new regulations, but consumers can already make a difference. It starts with one word on the label: 'blended'.
The problem with ‘Blended EU and non-EU honey’
In most supermarkets, honey labels display one of the following vague terms:
- "Blended EU honey"
- "Blended non-EU honey"
- "Blended EU and non-EU honey"
These designations, allowed under the old EU guidelines, lack transparency. They give consumers no clear idea about the actual origin or, crucially, the proportion of honey from different countries.
For example, a jar could contain 99% cheap honey from a country with a high risk of fraud and 1% expensive EU honey, but legally the vague 'blended' label is sufficient. This lack of transparency makes it very easy to market cheap, diluted honey in Europe.
Shocking results: Honey adulterated with sugar syrups
This lack of transparency has serious consequences. Coordinated EU investigations revealed that a significant portion of honey imported into Europe did not meet the definition of honey because it was diluted with cheap sugar syrups (such as rice, wheat, or beet syrup). This is outright fraud, undercutting beekeepers who follow the rules and misleading consumers.
This ‘fake honey’ is cheaper to produce, lacks the same nutritional and medicinal properties as pure honey, and endangers the entire beekeeping sector.
- European Coordinated Survey (2023): The European Commission’s report on the coordinated action "From the Hives" (conducted in 2021-2022). This study revealed that 46% of tested batches of imported honey were suspected of adulteration with added sugar syrups.
- European Parliament and Council (2024): The political agreement on revising the "Breakfast Directives" (honey directive). This confirms that the EU is tightening legislation to combat fraud and the lack of transparency about origin countries and their percentages.
- Type of Fraud: News articles and scientific analyses from the Joint Research Centre (JRC) confirm that the adulteration mainly involved the use of cheap sugar syrups (such as rice syrup or beet syrup) to dilute the honey.
The Organic Guarantee and Inspection
You might wonder how inspection works, especially for organic honey.
Our honey carries an organic certification. This means that inspections in Bulgaria and then in the EU are extra strict. Organic organizations check not only for the absence of pesticides and antibiotics but also for:
- Bees must collect nectar within a 3-kilometer zone free from pesticides and pollution (no highways, no industry).
- Supplemental feeding during scarcity is only allowed with organic honey or organic sugar.
- Chemical treatments and the use of antibiotics are prohibited to protect bee health.
- Processing must preserve the natural composition and nutritional value of the honey.
- The final product is strictly tested for purity (no added sugar syrups) and absence of chemical residues and antibiotics.
- Complete documentation is required to trace the honey from the jar back to the original beehive.
The future: Clearer labels are coming
Good news is that the European Union has responded to the widespread fraud. A political agreement has recently been reached on revising the labeling rules (the so-called ‘Breakfast Directives’).
In the future, blended honey will be required to:
- List the countries of origin on the label.
- Indicate the percentage share for each country, in descending order.
This is a major victory for consumers and honest beekeepers. But these new rules are not yet in effect.
Make a difference now
You don’t have to wait for new legislation to be sure of your honey’s quality. The solution is simple: Buy honey that is transparent about its ingredients
Our honey is 100% organic Bulgarian flower honey. Not blended, fully transparent, and directly traceable.
