Honey labeled USDA Organic is not necessarily certified 100% U.S. organic honey.

October 30, 9:29 PMOrlando Beekeeping ExaminerJean Vasicek

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I always check out the honey aisle at the grocery store. The other day I was in a prominent food store and a honey label caught my eye. The label said “USDA Organic”. I bought a bottle. Since I knew that U.S. organic honey is nearly impossible to produce, I was curious.

Bees can travel up to 2.5 miles to get nectar. Generally, at some point during their travels to find nectar, bees will encounter some type of pollutant. Because of this, many experts consider 100% U.S. organic honey impossible to produce.

So, what does USDA organic mean? According to the National Honey Board, the ‘USDA Organic’ seal does not ensure that the honey was produced in the U.S. and, furthermore, it does not certify that the honey is 100% organic. ‘USDA Organic’ honey is defined as 95% organic. The National Honey Board did not expand on exactly what 95% organic means; however, to obtain a 100% organic certification, the  honey must be certified by an accredited agency.

Before I made my honey purchase, I should have read the back label. Although many honey companies choose not to list the honey’s country of origin, the bottle I purchased listed about 30, and not one was the U.S.A.  It seems that when it comes to honey, the 'USDA Organic' seal is a bit misleading.