Frequently Asked Questions about Honey
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Honey Filtration
Why is most honey filtered?
According to USDA Grading Standards for extracted honey, filtered honey is honey that has been filtered to the extent that all or most of the fine particles, pollen grains, air bubbles, or other materials normally found in suspension, have been removed.
Honey that is filtered by packers is filtered for various reasons:
- Many consumers prefer honey that is liquid and stays liquid for a long time.
- All honey crystallizes eventually. Suspended particles and fine air bubbles in honey contribute to faster crystallization. Filtering helps delay crystallization, helping the honey to remain liquid for a much longer period than unfiltered honey.
Many consumers prefer honey to be clear and brilliantly transparent.
- The presence of fine, suspended material (pollen grains, wax, etc.) and air bubbles results in a cloudy appearance that can detract from the appearance. Filtering is done to give a clear brilliant product desired by consumers. For the filtered style of honey, USDA Grading Standards for Extracted Honey give higher grades for honey that has good clarity.
- Honey is filtered to remove extraneous solids that remain after the initial raw processing by the beekeeper.
Various filtration methods are used by the food industry throughout the world. Ultrafiltration, a specific kind of filtration used in the food industry, should not be confused with other filtration methods generally used in the honey industry. When applied to honey, ultrafiltration involves adding water to honey and filtering it under high pressure at the molecular level, then removing the water. It is a much more involved and expensive process which results in a colorless sweetener product that is derived from honey but is not considered “honey” in the U.S.
Honey that is filtered through more traditional methods is still “honey,” even if pollen has been removed along with other fine particles.
November 9, 2011
The choices consumers make today about most products, including honey, are extremely personal. In regards to honey, consumers may have varying opinions about their choice of honey type, flavor and origin. To enable a truly personal choice, there are many different kinds of honey available in the U.S. market. Some consumers prefer honey in the comb or liquid honey that is unprocessed or raw, while some prefer honey that is crystallized or cremed. Others will seek out honey that is organically produced and certified. However, the majority of honey sold at retail in the U.S. every year is the clear, golden liquid honey that has been strained or filtered.
There are a number of filtration processes that remove fine particles, including pollen, from honey - but the end result is still pure honey. Pollen particles may or may not be present in the honey an individual chooses, but the product is still honey.
Unfortunately, inaccuracies in a recent news story have fueled a considerable amount of confusion about the term “ultrafiltered honey.” Ultrafiltration is a specific process used in the food industry. When applied to honey, ultrafiltration results in a sweetener product that is not honey because of the significant changes it causes in the original honey. It is an expensive process that requires the addition of water to the honey, high pressure filtration at the molecular level, and then removal of the water. While it is known to have been used with honey overseas to create a sweetener product for beverages, ultrafiltration is not generally used in the U.S. Other filtration methods have been used for many years in the U.S. honey industry. These filtration methods are designed to remove fine particles such as bits of wax, bee parts, air bubbles and pollen that hasten crystallization of the honey and affect clarity. Recent articles have also incorrectly stated that the FDA does not consider honey without pollen to be honey - that is simply not true.
Where to Purchase?
Where can I purchase a specific type of honey or honey product?
Please visit our Honey Locator Web site. On this Web site, you can search for honey by variety, product type and location.
Recipe Permission
I would like to use some of your recipes on my Web site. May I have permission to use your recipes?
You may use any recipes from our Web site, but may not use any of our photography. All of our photography is copyrighted and may not be used without permission. Please credit the National Honey Board when using our recipes. If possible please provide a link to www.honey.com. For complete website content and photo usage guidelines, see the link below.
http://www.honey.com/nhb/media/press-kit/press-kit-web-content-and-photo-usage-guidelines/
Permission to Link
May I have permission to link to your Web sites?
Yes, you may link to either of our Web sites — www.honey.com or www.honeylocator.com.
More Beekeeping Information
I am looking for information on beekeeping.
Although the National Honey Board does not focus on beekeeping or providing information on beekeeping, we do sell a short informational video for educational purposes. You may also find beekeeping courses or information available at many universities.
Removing Bees
Who should I call to remove bees from my property?
We suggest that you contact your local beekeeping association. You can click the link below to view a directory of associations by state.
Classroom Speakers
How can I find a beekeeper to come and speak to my classroom?
Please contact your local beekeeping association. You can find a list of associations in your area by clicking on the link below, then searching under your state.
Beekeeping Groups
How do I find beekeeping assocations or publications?
The publication "Bee Culture" provides a list of common beekeeping assocations and publications at the link below.
Bees Make Honey
How do bees make honey?
Honey is the sweet fluid produced by honey bees from the nectar of flowers. Worker honey bees transform the floral nectar that they gather into honey by adding enzymes to the nectar and reducing the moisture.
Stinging Insects
How do I tell the difference between honeybees and other stinging insects?
To tell the difference between a honey bee and other insects, please visit the following site at the link below.
Pollination
How do bees pollinate plants?
As bees travel from blossom to blossom in search of nectar, they brush against the pollen-bearing parts of a flower (anther or stamen) and pick up pollen. When the honey bee goes to another flower for more food, some of the pollen from the first flower sticks to the second flower. In this way, the flowers are pollinated. Almonds, apples, avocados, blueberries, cantaloupes, cherries, cranberries, cucumbers, sunflowers, watermelon and many other crops all benefit from honey bees for pollination. The link below will display a PDF file of our brochure, "The Story of Pollination".
http://www.honey.com/nhb/downloads/educational/#story-of-pollination
Sugar Substitution
How do I substitute honey for sugar?
When substituting honey for granulated sugar in recipes, begin by substituting honey for up to half of the sugar called for in the recipe. For baked goods, make sure to reduce the oven temperature by 25°F to prevent over-browning; reduce any liquid called for by 1/4 cup for each cup of honey used and add 1/2 teaspoon baking soda for each cup of honey used. Because of its high fructose content, honey has higher sweetening power than sugar. This means you can use less honey than sugar to achieve the desired sweetness.
Crystallized Honey
My honey has become solid (crystallized), is it still good?
Crystallization is the natural process by which the glucose in honey precipitates out of the liquid honey. Different varieties of honey will crystallize at different rates, and a few not at all. If your honey crystallizes, simply place the honey jar in warm water and stir until the crystals dissolve. Or, place the honey in a microwave-safe container with the lid off and microwave, stirring every 30 seconds, until the crystals dissolve. Be careful not to boil or scorch the honey. Also keep in mind that you can eat the honey in a crystallized form. Just scoop out of the jar and spread it on your toast or drop it in your tea!
Expiration Date
Does honey have an expiration date?
Honey stored in sealed containers can remain stable for decades and even centuries! However, honey is susceptible to physical and chemical changes during storage; it tends to darken and lose its aroma and flavor or crystallize. These are temperature-dependent processes, making the shelf life of honey difficult to define. For practical purposes, a shelf life of two years is often stated. Properly processed, packaged and stored honey retains its quality for a long time. If in doubt, throw it out, and purchase a new jar of honey!
Infants and Honey
Why can’t I feed honey to my baby less than 1 year of age?
Honey may contain Clostridium botulinum spores that can cause infant botulism - a rare but serious disease that affects the nervous system of young babies (under one year of age). C. botulinum spores are present throughout the environment and may be found in dust, soil and improperly canned foods. Adults and children over one year of age are routinely exposed to, but not normally affected by, C. botulinum spores. Honey is safe to consume during pregnancy and lactation. While infants are susceptible to the infant botulism, adults, including pregnant females, are not. The concern for babies stems from the fact that infants lack the fully developed gastrointestinal tract of older humans. Since the mother is not in danger of developing this condition, the unborn baby is protected. Spores are inactivated when manufactured food products (such as cereals or nuts) receive a roasting heat treatment. Graham crackers or cereal, for example, would not contain any viable microbial spores.
Nutrional Information
What is honey’s nutritional information?
Please follow the link below for technical specification about the nutritional components of honey.
Weight of Honey
How much does honey weigh?
Eight fluid ounces (or 1 cup) of honey weighs 12 oz. Be careful in buying and measuring quantities of honey. Honey is typically sold by weight, rather than volume. It is heavier than water; the standard for "fluid ounces", which is why one cup of water is considered 8 fluid ounces, but one cup of honey will actually weigh 12 oz. A gallon of honey weighs approximately 12 lbs.
Raw Honey
What is raw honey?
While there is no official definition of raw honey, it generally means honey that has not been heated or filtered.
Honey Appearance
Why does my honey look/taste different than I'm used to?
Honey comes in many colors and flavors - these are called honey varietals and they are determined by the type of flowers the bees visited for nectar. Some are light and sweet; others are dark and bold. Pick the honey you like and enjoy!
Can I Join?
I would like to become a member of the National Honey Board. How do I join?
Because the NHB is an instrumentality of the USDA, there are really no “members,” “dues” or “joining” the National Honey Board. The Board's work is funded by an assessment of one cent per pound on domestic and imported honey.
Honey From the NHB?
I would like to buy some of your honey.
The National Honey Board does not buy or sell honey. We are a federal research and promotion board under USDA oversight that conducts research, marketing and promotion programs to help maintain and expand domestic and foreign markets for honey and honey products. One option that we do provide if you would like to sell or purchase honey, is our Honey Locator Web site, which is a directory of honey suppliers (see link below).
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