China
China remains a large producer and exporter of honey, most of which is extracted as immature, high moisture honey. The moisture of the honey is typically reduced in vacuum chambers in China’s many honey-processing factories. Besides the now well-known problems with transshipment and circumvention of Chinese honey, there is a broad recognition of massive adulteration of Chinese honey both for export and domestic consumption. A headline about “Fake Honey” in a Chinese newspaper proclaimed “60-70% of honey on the market is adulterated” and the July, 2013, report states that beet root syrup and rice syrup are being sold in China as honey.

Chinese beekeepers in the Shandong Apiculture Association are protesting that this harms their rights and interests. They have also reported problems such as 1) heavy pesticide use killing off large honey bee populations, 2) land clearance, 3) diseases to plants important for honey production, and 4) the need to import non-native Western bee species for large scale beekeeping (Neil Thomas, Jinan Times, July 29, 2013).

If, and when, Chinese consumers suffer from and protest the fraud, adulteration and food contamination, which have already been revealed in powdered milk, meat products and honey, then effective pressure may push the authorities to clean up the corruption and promote and enforce effective regulations regarding food safety and honesty in labeling.

SAVE THE HONEYBEE, STERILIZE THE EARTH

By Josh Dzieza

This is one of the best articles recently written, which explains in simple to understand language the problems facing the honeybee today:   If you are interested in what is causing colony collapse disorder or wanting to simply help the plight of the honey bee this article is a must read.

 Copy and paste this link if clicking on it does not work for you...

If you would like a copy to be e-mailed to you, send an e-mail request  to Muscavaya@aol.com  and I will forward the article in pdf format.

http://www.psmag.com/navigation/nature-and-technology/save-the-honeybee-sterilize-the-earth-pollination-industrial-complex-95566/#.VLB66623PYU.facebook

Excerpted from an article in the American Bee Journal

The article to the left came from a much  larger report related to honey production here in the USA and in several other honey producing countries.  I found this particular report to be very interesting! More proof that buying from your local beekeeper is the way to go!