Honey Labeling: or who is who in the zoo?

What do you think the label on the honey jar tells you? Where the honey comes from? Who produced it? How old it is?

The honey label information does not tell you is where the honey was actually produced. Only honey sourced from outside the United States is required to be declared with its country of origin on the label. Domestic honey, on the other hand, can be sold in bulk, packaged elsewhere, and marketed to consumers as “local” every single day.

The “name and place of business” on the label does not indicate where the honey was harvested—it only tells you where it was packaged. Unfortunately, this allows honey to be repackaged and sold under a local label, even by “beekeepers” who no longer keep bees but are still looking to make a profit. They are the ones with unlimited honey supply, perfect packaging and whole sale prices that are too good to be true!

The proper labeling of honey and honey products in the United States is regulated under Sections 402 and 403 of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) (21 U.S.C. §§ 342 and 343), along with the regulations that implement it. That’s a lot of legal language meant to ensure honey is labeled accurately and consistently, to prevent adulteration or misbranding, and to help consumers make informed choices.

But what does that actually mean for the shopper?

At a minimum, a honey label is required to include the following basic elements:
✔ Product identity: The word “honey” or another truthful, accurate description.
✔ Net quantity of contents: Listed in both U.S. customary and metric units (for example, ounces and grams).
✔ Name and place of business: The name and address of the manufacturer, packer, or distributor.
✔ Nutrition Facts panel: Generally required, unless the producer qualifies for a small business exemption based on business size and annual sales.

Source: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products: Guidance for Industry ( http://www.fda.gov/FoodGuidances )

This is why labels alone don’t always tell the full story—and why knowing your beekeeper still matters! Want to try real Tennessee Honey? Look no further! You can find our local Honey here!