I love honey. I love that it is a natural product that has been around forever. So, I found it upsetting to learn that much of the honey sold in stores is contaminated with antibiotics like Chloramphenicol, which is banned by the FDA. US bee keepers aren’t using antibiotics, but two-thirds of the honey Americans eat is imported and almost half of it, regardless of what’s written on the label, comes from China. This was reported in the Seattle Post Intelligencer, which did an investigation.
The creepy thing is that truck loads of foreign honey come into the US from Canada, for example, and even though the label says “Made in Canada”, much of it actually comes from China. It’s been reported that contaminated Chinese honey was used in food products including products sold by Sara Lee, Smucker’s, and even packed into individual servings for the Ritz Carlton Hotel chain. In addition, large amounts of tainted Chinese honey was shipped back to China, where it was then shipped to Australia and other countries and relabeled as from those countries of origin.
As I say in my book Super Natural Home, it’s best to buy local whenever you can, and that goes for honey as well. I buy raw honey from my local farmer’s market. It comes straight from the hive and is not heated, which can kill health-enhancing enzymes. I use it to treat burns, help with summer allergies and as a sweetener in my chai. It also makes an excellent natural preservative. I hear it was found in ancient tombs and was determined to still be edible!
Hi Beth,
I tried to email you, but your email isn’t working.
Just wondering if there is any way I can participate in your book offer by also offering a free gift (20% discount) to your subscribers. I am always looking for new ways to spread the word about eliminating toxic cleaning chemicals from our lives and was very excited to see this wonderful book. I look forward to hearing back from you as to ways that I can contribute.
Yours,
Carolynn Wain
Senior Executive Manager
Norwex Enviro Products
Improving Quality of Life, 1 Party at a Time!
Buying local is definitely the way to go – and farmer’s markets are even better! Thanks for the great post.
Laurie, ecoki.com
In addition to the environmental and economic benefits, I’ve read there are health benefits to using locally produced honey. Using honey that is produces in one’s local area is good for the immune system. Here are some other health benefits:
* Taking organic raw honey is a healthy way to get an energy boost.
* Honey is a great aid in relieving morning sickness. And is good for sore throats.
* Honey and cinnamon can help in many areas including relief from bladder infections, arthritis, upset stomach and bad breath. It’s even supposed to be able to slow down hair loss.
* Honey can be used as a medication for men with problems of impotence and women with problems related to infertility. Warm raw goat milk and raw honey is believed to increase sperm count considerably.
More benefits can be found at: http://www.ghchealth.com/natural-health/health-benefits-of-organic-locally-grown-raw-honey/
Hi Carolyn,
Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back to you! You wrote to me the day my book launched and then your email got buried. Please give me more details on what you have in mind and what type of cleaning products you sell.
Best,
Beth