Canadian beekeepers are trying to spin a bad situation around so they don’t get stung by consumer reaction.
They hope consumers will not be put off honey altogether by the Canadian Food Inspection Agency’s March 23 health hazard alert that some honey on store shelves may contain a dangerous drug.
“We’re very concerned that consumer confidence will be eroded by this sort of thing,” said Phil Veldhuis a beekeeper from Starbuck, Man.
“I keep telling people, ‘if you want to make sure you’re eating safe, healthy honey, buy a Canadian product.’ “
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The CFIA warning only applies to some honey imported to Canada that contains antimicrobial drugs called nitrofurans.
Nitrofurans are banned from use on food-producing animals in Canada and can be toxic or cause allergic reactions in humans consuming them.
Veldhuis, who is an executive member of the Manitoba Honey Producers Co-operative, said he hopes the bad press about honey will be eased by differentiating Canadian honey from foreign honey, but he fears these types of problems blemish the industry.
“I’m starting to get questions from my customers,” said Veldhuis, who sells honey at his farm.
“That’s really worrisome.”
Many consumers buy honey because they believe it is a safe, natural product, Veldhuis said. Finding out their sweetener may contain toxic drugs could undermine those buyers’ willingness to put honey in their shopping cart.
The suspect imported honey is now being recalled from retailers. Some of the tainted honey comes from Argentina, Australia and Turkey.
