The recent news and press releases reporting that honey being sold in South Africa is “contaminated”, contains “lethal products” and is “carcinogenic” have obviously caused considerable concern amongst consumers of honey, honey retailers, beekeepers and SABIO (the South African Bee Industry Organization). SABIO has been active for many years in trying to ensure that South African honey consumers are guaranteed a safe, healthy and quality product. Recent events demonstrate, however, that there is still much to be achieved and SABIO is actively consulting with retailers and the regulatory authorities to deliver the customer protection that is warranted.

Some perspective on the recent press reports, and on the threat posed by “tainted Chinese honey”, is required and Mike Allsopp of the Agricultural Research Council in Stellenbosch was asked to provide some background on the issue:

“The issue of chloramphenicol (CAP) in Chinese honey arose in 2002 when the US Customs authorities detected the antibiotic in shipments of Chinese honey being imported into the USA. Subsequently, CAP and also other antibiotics were found in Chinese honey being imported into Europe. CAP is a last-resort antibiotic, and is generally used when other antibiotics have failed and other treatments are unavailable, and has potentially dangerous albeit rare side-effects. CAP is illegal in food substances and consequently Chinese honey and bee products were banned from entry by the US, Canada and the EU.

Chinese honey producers then tried to circumvent the ban by exporting to USA and Europe through third countries, and CAP tainted honey was found in imports from Mexico, Australia, Singapore, Hong Kong, Romania, Hungary, Argentina, India, Malaysia and Thailand. China also tried to cleanse their honey by using absorbent charcoal to remove the CAP and other antibiotics. This resulted in what was called ultra-filtered (UF) honey, but the process completely changes the composition and flavour, and this product should not be sold as honey. Nonetheless, at least 20 000 tonnes of UF honey made its way onto the US market.

China also maintained that the whole antibiotic issue was nothing more than a trade barrier, and an effort by the US and EU to prevent Chinese honey imports.[China is the biggest honey producer in the world, producing at least three times more honey than any other country]. Chinese authorities argued that the CAP residues in their honey were too low to be a health concern, and correctly pointed out that higher CAP levels were allowed in other foodstuffs without censure. For example, EU regulations allow one hundred times more CAP in beef than in honey. Trade barrier or genuine health concern notwithstanding, Chinese authorities acted swiftly and successfully to eliminate antibiotics from their honey, and both the EU and the USA lifted the ban on Chinese honey in late 2004.

As far as South Africa is concerned, very large amounts (proportionally) of Chinese honey have found their way into the country in recent years, and it is almost certain that before 2004 most of this honey would have been tainted with antibiotics. Some Chinese UF honey also was imported and sold as normal honey. To the best of my knowledge South Africa did not administer regulations to prevent the entry of antibiotic-tainted honey or UF honey, nor was there any substantial testing of imported honey. That being said, it should be stressed that the antibiotic levels reported in tainted honey are very low, and the human health hazard appears to be minimal, and that it is very unlikely that any tainted honey has been imported since 2003. There may well be small amounts of old Chinese honey still in circulation, but the vast majority of tainted honey is surely long consumed”.

SABIO is therefore confident that there is an extremely low likelihood that any honey on the South African market contains chloramphenicol or any other antibiotic, or that it poses any health risk to consumers. Nonetheless, retailers are requiring all their honey suppliers to have their honey tested and certified as antibiotic-free, and SABIO is fully supportive of this requirement s necessary in re-assuring the public that honey is a healthy and safe commodity. In addition, to prevent a recurrence of events such as these, SABIO is actively working with retailers and the regulatory authorities to ensure that honey on the shelf is safe for all consumers and that honey is restored to its rightful place in the public perception. Namely, by ensuring that:

1. All imported honey is systematically assessed for antibiotics and that regulatory authorities fulfill their public health mandate.
2. All imported honey is systematically assessed for pesticide residues, adulteration and quality, as well as for potential pests and diseases, to protect the local beekeeping industry as well as South African agriculture and biodiversity.
3. Such testing should be carried out in a transparent manner, open to public scrutiny, and that the costs be borne by those importing honey.
4. Greater attention be paid by the regulatory authorities in regard to the correct labeling of honey for sale, with country of origin, irradiation or not, producer identity and grade being adequately identified, and that the authorities prosecute offenders.
5. And that local honey producers continue to co-operate with retailers and have their product regularly tested to ensure the pristine quality of locally produced honey.

We are grateful to the press for bringing this matter to the attention of the public, and galvanizing the industry into action.  We will continue to bring pressure to bear on honey producers who do not comply with the regulatory requirements.  In addition to these areas of intervention SABIO has asked for the National Agriculture Marketing Council to undertake a section 7 analysis of the honey industry and they have agreed to do this.  This survey will include all aspects of the industry, retailers and government. Following this analysis a report is presented to government as a comprehensive strategy in order to secure any loopholes that may still be present in the value chain of honey from the producer to the consumer. 

I hope that consumers will be re-assured by these initiatives.  Please understand that the “lethal product” mentioned refers to an uncertain threat nearly 5 years ago, and steps have been and are being taken to ensure your protection.  Check labels on the shelf, be sure you can trace your supplier and contact the producer if in any doubt.

John Moodie
Vice Chairperson SABIO