WASHINGTON, D.C. — Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville has introduced the Honey Integrity Act, a bill aimed at protecting U.S. honey producers and consumers from counterfeit imports often diluted with cheaper sweeteners like corn syrup. The legislation would establish a federal standard for honey and require reporting on enforcement actions against mislabeled or adulterated products.
“Honey is one of nature’s greatest antioxidants, providing many wonderful health benefits,” Tuberville said in a statement. “Our honey producers deserve a level playing field, and Americans deserve to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies.”
The issue hits close to home for Alabama, where honey is a key agricultural product. Local organizations, including the Alabama Farmers Federation and the Alabama Commercial Beekeepers Association, have thrown their support behind the bill. Blake Thaxton, director of the federation’s Bee and Honey Division, called it “a meaningful step toward building consumer confidence.”
Adulteration of honey is a growing problem in the United States, where about 70% of the honey supply comes from imports. Recent testing by the Food and Drug Administration revealed that 10-14% of imported honey samples contained undeclared additives like corn or rice syrup. These additives allow producers to cut costs while misleading consumers who believe they are purchasing pure honey.
Alabama beekeepers say the influx of counterfeit products has created unfair competition and hurt their bottom line.
The Honey Integrity Act has also garnered support from national organizations like the American Honey Producers Association, which praised its potential to restore fairness in the marketplace. For Alabama’s beekeepers, the legislation represents an opportunity to protect both their livelihoods and the reputation of a product long associated with purity and health benefits.