The Dark Side of Turkey’s Honey Industry
Turkey is one of the biggest honey producers in the world but the industry is facing a crisis due to counterfeit honey production. The actual extent of counterfeit honey production in the country remains unclear but police have confiscated several tons of adulterated honey in recent months worth about €25 million.
What is Counterfeit Honey?
Honey is often adulterated with sugar syrup or other ingredients. If a product contains artificial flavors colors sweeteners glucose corn syrup or artificial honeycomb it can’t be sold as honey. If it is it’s referred to as counterfeit or adulterated honey which is a violation of labeling laws.
The Impact on Turkey’s Reputation
The industry is alarmed as producers fear that Turkey’s reputation on the international market will suffer significant damage. They are calling for state intervention stricter regulations and deterrent penalties for producers of counterfeit honey.
The Lack of Regulation
Ziya Sahin the president of the Turkish Beekeepers’ Association holds the Ministry of Agriculture responsible for the lack of regulation. He wants to see more inspections and higher penalties. “The problem is the lack of regulation. Our beekeepers are angry and they ask why we’re not doing something to stop it. But we have no authority to inspect.”
The Global Problem of Counterfeit Honey
Counterfeit honey isn’t just a Turkish problem. Those involved in the industry emphasize that there’s fake honey in China and Europe too. “It would be unfair to claim that it only affects Turkey. That said Turks are particularly inventive about such matters” said Can Sezen the managing director of Anavarza Bal one of the country’s leading honey producers.
The Economic Reason Behind Counterfeit Honey
One significant reason for the increase in counterfeit honey is Turkey’s economic situation. Fake honey costs only a fifth as much as the real thing selling in Turkey for about €1.60 per kilogram. The price for real honey can be as high as €8 a kilo.
The Risk of Counterfeit Honey in Europe
Experts say customs checks aren’t sufficient for detecting counterfeit honey meaning that fake Turkish honey could already be in supermarkets abroad. “It may be that counterfeit honey is first exported illegally to Arab countries then shipped on to other parts of the world” said Ziya Sahin.
The Severity of the Problem
The severity of the problem is illustrated by figures from the European Anti-Fraud Office. In 2023 the agency uncovered huge violations involving honey imported to the European Union. Almost half or 46% of the samples it examined were adulterated. Out of 15 samples of honey from Turkey 14 of them were counterfeit.
