Unadulterated Honey Market Concerns Rise as Authorities Destroy Substandard Products

Kathmandu. The Nepali market is flooded with unlabeled and substandard honey. Honey is sold in bags on the roadside without any standards.

Consumers are not only cheated by such honey, but it is also having a serious impact on public health. As the rampant sale of fake and adulterated honey has been observed, regulatory bodies and police administration have increased their vigilance.

In Gulmi, police destroyed a large quantity of substandard honey on Tuesday. According to the District Police Office, Gulmi, about 400 kg of suspected honey-like substance seized from the bus park area of Resunga Municipality was found to be inedible after laboratory testing.

The test conducted at the Division Office of Food Technology and Quality Control, Palpa, confirmed that the sample did not meet the standards set by the government, and it was destroyed by digging a pit in the presence of stakeholders.

The local administration has also warned of strict action against such activities that play with the health of consumers.

Even well-known established brands in the market have been found to be weak in terms of quality. During market monitoring, the Department of Food Technology and Quality Control found that a 500-gram Dabur brand honey (batch number NB00477) produced by Dabur Nepal Pvt. Ltd. was of low quality in the last week of Jestha, and it was immediately instructed to be recalled from the market.

According to the provisions of the Food Hygiene and Quality Act, 2081, the directive issued to stop the sale and distribution of that specific batch of production and to remove it from the market has shown that consumers need to be cautious even when buying honey from established brands.

How to identify pure honey?

There are some simple methods that ordinary people can easily test the purity of honey at home. According to nutritionist Dr. Raju Adhikari, honey is not only tasty but also a natural product with immense benefits and medicinal value for the human body.

Although people consume it in various forms without hesitation, Adhikari says that not all honey available in the market is pure. According to him, nowadays, not only adulterated honey but also honey made entirely from artificial chemical mixtures are found in the market, which can be harmful to human health. In such a situation, consumers must be aware and identify pure honey themselves.

What does pure honey look like?

According to Dr. Adhikari, the first indicator of honey's quality and purity is its color and aroma. Although many people consider clear honey to be pure, pure honey is not completely clear but appears slightly murky.

Pure honey does not dissolve quickly in water and some part floats on the surface of the water. Similarly, if honey is spread between the index and thumb fingers and it stretches like rubber, it is considered pure, but if it breaks easily, it is not pure.

Another characteristic of natural honey is that it solidifies well when the temperature drops. Even when kept in the sun, its color does not change. Its aroma also has a natural hint of slight sourness.

Dr. Adhikari has suggested some simple methods that ordinary people can use to determine the purity of honey at home.

If you add a spoonful of honey to a glass of water and it dissolves immediately like salt in water, it is understood to be adulterated or processed.

Pure honey does not dissolve quickly in water and some part floats on the surface of the water. Similarly, if honey is spread between the index and thumb fingers and it stretches like rubber, it is considered pure, but if it breaks easily, it is not pure.

If honey sticks easily between two slices of bread, it can also be identified as pure honey.

The season and source of beekeeping also determine the quality of honey. According to Dr. Adhikari, honey produced during the sunflower and mustard flowering season is considered good for health. Nowadays, honey is extracted by raising improved breeds of bees in any season.

Honey extracted by keeping bees near market areas where fruits are sold more or sugary substances are easily available, instead of grazing in natural flower gardens, is not beneficial for health. Consumers need to be aware to avoid the use of such unhealthy honey.

Importance of Honey

Honey is considered nature's unparalleled gift, akin to nectar. Dr. Adhikari says it is rich in various micronutrients essential for the human body and properties that warm the body.

It contains protein as well as antibacterial and antibiotic elements called 'phenol' that boost immunity. All these natural components in honey help protect the body from viral and bacterial infections and improve overall health.

In a state of body weakness, loss of appetite, to improve eyesight, keep the heart healthy, increase sexual potency, and during colds or coughs, honey consumption is extremely beneficial. According to Ayurvedic texts, regular consumption of completely pure honey in the correct way helps in positively managing or curing health problems like diabetes.

Nowadays, many people have a habit of drinking honey mixed with hot water after waking up in the morning, which Dr. Adhikari points out as an unhealthy habit.

When honey is mixed with excessively hot water or liquids, its beneficial properties are destroyed, and sometimes it can even become toxic. The best way to consume honey is to eat it directly from a spoon. Drinking warm water separately and eating honey separately activates the micro-glandular glands in the mouth, allowing it to work effectively in the body.

Dr. Adhikari states that it is appropriate for adults to consume one tablespoon of honey daily and for children to consume one teaspoon. If the honey is pure, consuming slightly more than this according to taste and body capacity will not cause harm.

In a state of body weakness, loss of appetite, to improve eyesight, keep the heart healthy, increase sexual potency, and during colds or coughs, honey consumption is extremely beneficial. According to Ayurvedic texts, regular consumption of completely pure honey in the correct way helps in positively managing or curing health problems like diabetes.