Do you like a good slice of butter (preferably salted) and honey? Like many French and Europeans, you therefore buy this delicious golden liquid, in supermarkets or directly from the producer. If you are buying from them, you have nothing to worry about. However, if you buy your honey in supermarkets, you may be disappointed…

The European Union imports around 40% of the honey it consumes, making it the second largest importer of honey in the world, after the United States, as reported by our colleagues from La Dépêche. However, a recent investigation, carried out by the European authorities revealed that nearly half of the honey imported into Europe was probably adulterated.

It is the research service of the European Commission and the European Anti-Fraud Office, whose nickname is Olaf, which are at the origin of the investigation in question. It identified 46% of samples tested in 16 Member States as non-compliant with EU criteria. During the last study of this kind, in 2015-2017, this rate was only 14%: we are therefore witnessing a very negative evolution in the quality of the honey we buy.

Among the most common fraudulent elements: the dissolution of pure honey by adding rice, beet or wheat sugar syrup. The goal ? Simply increase margins. Indeed, sugar syrup is obviously much cheaper than honey. The NGO Foodwatch is therefore now calling for the provision of resources commensurate with the problem to prevent fraud of this kind. This could involve, among other things, stricter labeling standards, forcing producers to give more details about their product.