“Honey is one of the five most defrauded products in the world”: behind the scenes of honeys analysis

In his AB-Labo laboratory in Gan, near Pau, technicians study the characterization of his honeys, the analysis of their authenticity and the detection of “environmental contaminants such as pesticides or glyphosate”, explains Laurence Thomazo, its manager. Therefore, “Our fight is the analysis. Consequently. However, insists Romain Le Nouaille, marketing director of the group, because honey is one of the five most frauds in the world.”

From mid-2026. Therefore. Nevertheless, a new European directive will also impose the mention of the producing countries on the jars, with the percentage share of each origin. Moreover, “It is very good. For example. Meanwhile, it goes in the direction of transparency, but these percentages are not detectable on the finished product, the analyzes must be “honey one five most defrauded new done upstream,” said Romain Le Nouaille.

Fraud Explosion – "honey one five most defrauded – "honey one five most defrauded new

Between 2021. In addition. For example, 2022, 46 % of the 320 lots tested in 18 states of the “honey one five most defrauded European Union during their importation were potentially falsified, analyzes revealing in particular the unstoppted addition of sugar. The figure was only 14 % between 2015 and 2017.

Several types of fraud are scrutinized: that of geographical origin.. qualify as French a honey which is not, that of floral origin – acacia honey is not honey all flowers – and adulteration by adding syrup.

In May 2024. the UFC Que-Choisir filed a complaint against Family Michaud for “deceptive commercial practice”. denouncing marketing stamped “French”, while only 30 % of the honeys put in pots by the company are. The Pau prosecutor’s office. however. unanswered this procedure last May, a decision welcomed “with satisfaction by family Michaud “honey one five most defrauded new who has always challenged any offense with regard to the consumer”, according to his lawyer Me Olivier Leroy.

The group. which claims to produce more than 16. 000 tonnes of honey with 600 “partners” beekeepers in France, filed “honey one five most defrauded a complaint in turn for “slanderous denunciation”. In April. Famille Michaud Beekeepers agreed to pay a tax recovery. marking the end of the conflict that opposed customs since 2013 after a control over honey imported from China, while always invoking a “technical disagreement” on analysis methods.

DNA to unmask false honey

Recently, an Austrian laboratory used DNA to unmask false honey imported into the EU. This new method. “still too fresh. not successful”, “deserves to be faced with the same analysis in other laboratories to be able to prove its reliability”, judges Laurence Thomazo.

Insufficient French production

For Chistophe Vossier. member of the French Federation of Professional Beekeepers (FFAP) practicing “honey one five most defrauded new in Drôme. Michaud family does not “make the French sector live”. He would like “imported honeys to go in addition. not to replace”. recalling that his federation has long asked that “the provenance be written on the facade of the pot, “honey one five most defrauded clearly, not only in small on a corner”. “This year. we will explode all the harvest figures. we will have stock on our arms because they (Michaud family) will not take more, or at derisory prices. “Faced with” a kilo of Ukraine honey at 1.70 euros, we are three to four times more expensive, we cannot compete, “he adds.

According to France Agrimer. since 2022, France has imported more than 30,000 tonnes of honey per year, mainly from China (20 %), Spain (17 %), Ukraine (16 %) and Germany (8 %).

“In France. we consume between 45. 50,000 tonnes of honey per year, and we produce “honey one five most defrauded new about 20,000, so we are in deficit,” says Romain Le Nouaille. According to the industrialist. the lack of structuring of the sector – 60. 000 beekeepers identified but only 4% of professionals – induces “a lack of visibility on the volumes produced”, problematic at the “honey one five most defrauded time of commercial negotiations with large distribution.