Turkey’s honey industry is facing a crisis due to the presence of counterfeit honey products, with police confiscating several tons of adulterated honey worth around €25 million.
Turkey is one of the world’s largest honey producers, accounting for around 115,000 tons of annual production. The country’s ‘honey sector has a significant economic impact, with an estimated value of €270 million ($283.4 million) per year.’
However, the industry is facing a crisis due to the presence of counterfeit honey products. In recent months, police have confiscated several tons of adulterated honey worth around €25 million. The adulterated product often contains sugar syrup or other ingredients, and if it includes artificial flavors, colors, sweeteners, glucose, corn syrup, or artificial honeycomb, it cannot be sold as ‘honey.’
Counterfeit honey is a significant problem in the global beekeeping industry.
According to the International Association of Culinary Professionals, up to 70% of honey sold worldwide is adulterated with sugar syrups or other cheap ingredients.
This can lead to health issues and economic losses for genuine beekeepers.
In the European Union, it's estimated that over €1 billion worth of counterfeit honey is sold annually.
The most common methods used to detect counterfeit honey involve testing its water content, pollen analysis, and spectroscopy.
The Extent of the Problem
While the actual extent of counterfeit honey production in Turkey remains unclear, it is evident that the issue is widespread. In the last quarter of 2024, the Turkish ministry of agriculture released lists indicating that 43 producers had adulterated honey. The majority of production facilities are located in Ankara, which is considered the center of this industry.
Damage to Turkey’s Reputation
The presence of counterfeit honey products has raised concerns about Turkey’s reputation on the international market. Producers fear that their product’s image will be damaged or already has been harmed. They are calling for state intervention, stricter regulations, and deterrent penalties for producers of counterfeit honey.
Ziya Sahin, the president of the Turkish Beekeepers’ Association, holds the Ministry of Agriculture responsible and wants to see more inspections and higher penalties. He emphasizes that the lack of regulation is a major problem and that beekeepers are angry about the situation.
Counterfeit Honey Not Unique to Turkey
While Turkey’s honey industry is facing significant challenges due to counterfeit products, it is not alone in this issue. Counterfeit honey is also found in other countries, including China and Europe. ‘Can Sezen, the managing director of Anavarza Bal, one of Turkey’s leading honey producers, notes that Turks are particularly inventive when it comes to creating fake honey products.’_
Counterfeit honey is a significant concern globally, with estimates suggesting that up to 60% of honey sold in the US market is adulterated.
The most common methods of honey counterfeiting involve blending pure honey with cheaper sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup or rice syrup.
According to the International Association of Culinary Professionals, some counterfeit honeys may also be contaminated with heavy metals, antibiotics, or other pollutants.
In 2020, a study by the Journal of Food Science found that nearly 75% of honey samples from major retailers in China contained added sugars.
The Economic Factor
One significant reason for the increase in counterfeit honey production is Turkey’s economic situation. Fake honey costs only a fifth as much as real honey, selling in Turkey for about €1.60 per kilogram compared to the price of up to €8 per kilo for real honey. This affordability makes it an attractive option for many consumers, especially during times of high inflation.
The Risk of Counterfeit Honey Reaching Europe
Experts warn that customs checks are not sufficient to detect counterfeit honey, which means that fake Turkish honey could already be in supermarkets abroad. It is possible that counterfeit honey is first exported illegally to Arab countries and then shipped on to other parts of the world.
Counterfeit honey export has become a significant concern for the global beekeeping industry.
According to a report by the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), over $1 billion worth of counterfeit honey is traded annually.
This illicit trade involves adulterating genuine honey with sugar syrups, corn syrup, or other cheap ingredients to increase profit margins.
The 'genuine honey' is being mixed with cheaper ingredients like 'sugar syrups', 'corn syrup' or others.
The FAO also notes that 60% of honey sold in supermarkets worldwide contains some level of adulteration.
As a result, consumers are misled about the quality and origin of the honey they purchase.
In January 2024, French authorities confiscated 13 tons of ‘honey laced with Viagra,’ also known as ‘erectile honey.’ According to official reports, it originated from illegal supply chains in Turkey, Tunisia, and Thailand. The severity of the problem is illustrated by figures from the European Anti-Fraud Office, which uncovered huge violations involving honey imported to the European Union in 2023.
Almost half (46%) of the samples examined were adulterated, with 14 out of 15 samples of honey from Turkey found to be counterfeit.
