Bogus honey peddlers beware: More states are cracking down on sale of ‘funny honey’

States expand efforts to combat ‘funny honey’

RALEIGH, N.C. — North Carolina is getting tough on honey frauds.

Starting this month, the state will begin investigating complaints about products that masquerade as pure honey while containing additives such as corn syrup.

North Carolina is the fourth state since 2009 to adopt a pure honey standard, joining Florida, California and Wisconsin.

John Ambrose is an entomologist at North Carolina State University and a member of the new Honey Standards Board.

He says the board will test products in response to complaints to see if they have ingredients added to what the honeybees make.

There are between 10,000 and 12,000 beekeepers in North Carolina, and Ambrose says they’ll be vigilant about finding so-called “funny honey.”