Is Your Honey Real? What Honey Fraud, Lawsuits and Labels Can Teach Us About Choosing Better Honey

Honey seems simple. One ingredient. One jar. One golden sweetener made by bees.

But the honey aisle can be more complicated than it looks. Some jars are raw. Some are filtered. Some are organic. Some are imported. Some are blended from multiple countries. And in recent years, honey has also been at the center of food fraud concerns, class-action lawsuits, labeling disputes, and questions about traceability.

For anyone using honey in tea, baking, herbal recipes, or homemade infusions, this matters. At Farmer Soul, we believe simple ingredients should be exactly what they claim to be.

Why Honey Fraud Matters

Honey adulteration usually happens when honey is diluted, replaced, or stretched with cheaper sweeteners such as corn syrup, rice syrup, cane sugar syrup, beet sugar syrup, or other sweetener blends. When cheaper syrups are added without being clearly disclosed, the product is no longer the same thing. It may still look golden and pour like honey, but it does not carry the same meaning as real honey made by bees from flower nectar.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recognizes honey adulteration as a real economically motivated adulteration issue. The FDA has specifically tested honey for undeclared sweeteners and has issued guidance on how honey and honey products should be labeled.

What Is Honey Adulteration?

Honey adulteration means honey has been mixed with cheaper sweeteners such as corn syrup, rice syrup, cane sugar syrup, beet sugar syrup, or other inexpensive sweetener blends, without disclosure. Honey adulteration is considered a form of food fraud because it is economically motivated.

This does not mean every affordable honey is fake or every large brand is dishonest. It means honey is a product category where traceability, labeling, and sourcing matter more than many shoppers realize.

What the FDA Says About Honey Labeling

The FDA's honey labeling guidance is clear: if another sweetener is added to honey, the label should not simply call the product “honey.” A product containing honey and corn syrup should describe the product as a blend and disclose the added sweetener.

The FDA has also conducted sampling assignments to test imported and domestic honey for economically motivated adulteration. In its 2022–2023 imported honey assignment, the FDA tested 107 imported honey samples and found 3% to be violative. In its FY25 assignment, the FDA tested 102 honey samples and reported an approximately 4% violation rate.

Those numbers show that adulteration is real, but also that we should be careful with exaggerated claims. Honey fraud exists, but not every jar on every shelf should automatically be treated as fake.

What About Honey Lawsuits and Allegations?

In recent years, several honey brands, retailers, and private-label products have faced class-action lawsuits or legal claims related to honey labeling. These cases have included allegations involving terms such as “raw,” “unfiltered,” “pure,” pollen removal, traceability, and in some cases alleged adulteration.

However, it is important to understand the difference between a lawsuit allegation and a proven finding. A lawsuit means someone made a legal claim. It does not automatically mean the claim was proven. Some honey-related lawsuits have been dismissed. Some have settled. The bigger lesson for consumers is not to panic over viral lists, but to shop more thoughtfully: look for better sourcing, read the label, understand processing terms, and choose producers that explain where their honey comes from.

Why Pollen and Traceability Matter

Pollen particles in honey may help identify floral and geographic origin. When honey is heavily filtered or ultra-filtered, pollen may be reduced or removed, making origin harder to trace. Filtering is not always suspicious by itself — many producers filter honey to remove wax and debris. But heavy filtration that removes pollen can make it harder to verify where the honey came from. The key issue is whether the product is honest, traceable, and accurately labeled.

Raw, Unfiltered, Pure, Organic: What Do These Words Really Mean?

Raw Honey

“Raw” usually suggests honey has not been heavily heated or pasteurized. However, the exact meaning can vary by brand, so it is worth reading beyond the front label.

Unfiltered Honey

“Unfiltered” usually suggests the honey has not been heavily filtered and may still contain pollen, wax particles, or natural material from the hive.

Pure Honey

“Pure” sounds reassuring, but the most important thing is still ingredient and sourcing transparency. A jar labeled honey should not contain undeclared sweeteners.

Organic Honey

Organic honey can be complicated because bees travel widely. If organic matters to you, look for legitimate certification, not just the word “organic” in marketing copy.

Local Honey

Local honey can be a strong choice when you know the beekeeper or producer. Local sourcing can make traceability easier.

Can You Test Honey at Home?

You may see home tests online, such as the water test, crystallization test, flame test, thumb test, or paper towel test. However, home tests should not be treated as proof. Honey naturally varies in moisture level, floral source, age, temperature, texture, and crystallization behavior.

The National Honey Board has specifically warned that popular home tests, including the water test and flame test, are myths. Pure honey is naturally water-soluble, so the way honey behaves in water is not a reliable proof of authenticity. True honey authentication often requires laboratory testing.

Better Ways to Choose Honey

1. Read the ingredient list. If the product is truly honey, the ingredient should be honey. If you see corn syrup, rice syrup, or other sweeteners, it is a honey blend, not pure honey.
2. Look for country or region of origin. Be cautious when labels are vague, especially if the product is a blend from many countries without much detail.
3. Choose traceable honey when possible. A company that can tell you where the honey comes from is generally more trustworthy than one that only uses vague marketing words.
4. Buy from local or regional beekeepers when you can. You can often ask questions directly about floral source, harvest season, and filtering.
5. Expect real honey to cost more. Real beekeeping takes work. If a jar of honey is extremely cheap, it may be worth asking how that price is possible.
6. Learn the flavor of real honey. Real honey has character — it may taste floral, grassy, fruity, earthy, or mineral depending on the floral source.

What About Crystallization?

Crystallization is normal for many real honeys. Honey can naturally become grainy, thick, or crystallized over time depending on its floral source, glucose content, storage temperature, and age. If your honey crystallizes, gently warm the jar in a bowl of warm water to soften it. Crystallization alone does not prove honey is real, and liquid honey alone does not prove it is fake.

Why Real Honey Matters in Lavender Recipes

When making lavender-infused honey, the honey is not just a sweetener — it is half the recipe. Lavender brings floral, herbal aroma. Honey brings sweetness, body, depth, and texture. If the honey is low quality or diluted, the finished infusion will not have the same richness.

For a homemade recipe, read our full guide: Lavender Honey Recipe: How to Make Floral Lavender-Infused Honey at Home.

Honey and Lavender: A Natural Pairing

Lavender and honey pair beautifully because both have floral qualities. Lavender adds soft botanical aroma and herbal depth, while honey adds natural sweetness, body, warmth, and floral complexity. Together they work beautifully in tea, toast, yogurt, oatmeal, cheese boards, desserts, cookies, cakes, and lemonade.

For tea ideas, read How to Make Lavender Tea: A Simple Guide to Brewing Floral Herbal Tea.

How to Store Honey

Store honey in a tightly sealed container at room temperature, away from moisture and direct sunlight. Do not refrigerate — refrigeration can speed crystallization. Use a clean, dry spoon when scooping. Dried culinary lavender is preferred for lavender honey because it adds flavor without introducing fresh plant moisture.

A Note on Honey Safety

Honey should not be given to infants under 12 months old because of the risk of infant botulism. Even when real and high quality, honey should be used thoughtfully as it is still a sugar. Anyone with specific medical concerns, blood sugar concerns, allergies, or dietary restrictions should consult a qualified healthcare professional.

The Farmer Soul Approach

Our honey is sourced from a family-run American apiary with seasonal operations in Wisconsin and northern Florida. The bees move with natural bloom cycles, spending colder months in the Southeast and returning north for the Wisconsin summer bloom. This produces American honey with regional character, natural floral sweetness, and the comforting flavor people expect from pure raw honey.

Related Farmer Soul Guides

• Lavender Honey Recipe: How to Make Floral Lavender-Infused Honey at Home
• How to Make Lavender Tea: A Simple Guide to Brewing Floral Herbal Tea
• Lavender Baking Guide: How to Use Culinary Lavender in Baking

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Frequently Asked Questions About Real Honey

What is honey adulteration?

Honey adulteration usually means honey has been mixed with cheaper sweeteners such as corn syrup, rice syrup, cane sugar syrup, beet sugar syrup, or other sweetener blends without clear disclosure.

Can honey with added sweeteners still be called honey?

According to FDA guidance, when honey is mixed with another sweetener, it should be labeled as a blend and properly declare the added sweetener. A product with added syrup should not simply be labeled as honey.

Are honey lawsuits proof that a brand sold fake honey?

No. A lawsuit is an allegation, not proof. Some honey lawsuits have been dismissed, settled, or focused on labeling issues. A final court finding, regulatory action, or verified laboratory evidence is needed before treating a claim as proven fact.

Is crystallized honey bad?

No. Crystallization is normal for many real honeys. It does not mean the honey has spoiled.

Are home honey tests reliable?

Home honey tests can be interesting, but they are not definitive proof of authenticity. Laboratory testing is needed to confirm adulteration.

What should I look for when buying honey?

Look for a simple ingredient list, clear origin information, traceable sourcing, reputable producers, local or regional apiaries when possible, and realistic pricing.

What honey is best for lavender-infused honey?

Mild honeys such as wildflower, clover, orange blossom, or light raw honey work well because they allow the lavender flavor to come through.

Why does lavender pair well with honey?

Lavender and honey both have floral qualities. Lavender adds a soft botanical aroma, while honey adds natural sweetness, body, and warmth.

Is honey safe for children?

Honey should not be given to infants under 12 months old. For older children and adults, honey is commonly consumed as food, but it should still be used thoughtfully as it is a sugar.

Sources & References

This article is for educational purposes only and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “Guidance for Industry: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products.”
https://www.fda.gov/regulatory-information/search-fda-guidance-documents/guidance-industry-proper-labeling-honey-and-honey-products

U.S. Food and Drug Administration. “FY25 Sample Collection and Analysis of Domestically Produced and Imported Honey for Economically Motivated Adulteration.”
https://www.fda.gov/food/economically-motivated-adulteration-food-fraud/fy25-sample-collection-and-analysis-domestically-produced-and-imported-honey-economically-motivated

National Honey Board. “Breaking Down Honey Home Testing.”
https://honey.com/images/files/NHB-Test-Myths.pdf