Does Nate's Honey Use Pesticides? A Comprehensive Purity Guide

January 7, 2026 •

3 min read

According to Nature Nate's, every batch of their honey undergoes rigorous testing to ensure a clean read, free of common pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics. This commitment to purity addresses a major concern for many health-conscious consumers who wonder, 'Does Nate's honey use pesticides?'.

Quick Summary

Nature Nate's performs extensive testing on all honey batches, checking for pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics to ensure a pure product. Their quality standards, which include internal and third-party laboratory analysis, apply to both their classic and USDA-certified organic honey lines.

Key Points

Extensive Testing: Nature Nate's tests every batch of honey for the absence of common pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics.
Internal and Third-Party Labs: The testing regimen includes both in-house quality assurance and accredited external laboratory analysis.
Organic vs. Classic: Nate's organic honey meets USDA standards through international sourcing, while classic honey is tested for purity but not organic-certified due to untraceable U.S. bee foraging.
Independent Verification: Independent third-party tests, like the one conducted by Mamavation, have confirmed non-detectable levels of glyphosate and over 500 other pesticides in Nate's organic honey.
Raw and Unfiltered Process: The raw and unfiltered process means the honey is gently warmed and minimally strained, preserving natural pollens, enzymes, and other beneficial components.
Commitment to Purity: The brand's "Purity Guarantee" is a core part of its mission to provide a high-quality, unadulterated product.

Nate's Purity Promise: How Honey is Tested

Nature Nate's has built its reputation on providing 100% pure, raw, and unfiltered honey, a claim backed by a multi-layered testing process. The company operates on a principle of transparency, detailing its quality assurance measures to consumers. This process begins with a trusted network of beekeepers and continues with a battery of tests at the bottling facility. The testing regimen is designed to ensure a consistently pure and unadulterated product. This includes checks for various contaminants, providing peace of mind to those concerned about potential pesticide exposure.

The Testing Process Explained

The company's quality assurance team employs both in-house and external laboratory testing to verify the honey's purity. Upon arrival at the bottling facility, the honey is subjected to a series of in-house tests for characteristics such as color, moisture, and acidity. Following this, samples are sent to independent third-party labs for more comprehensive analysis. These labs test specifically for the absence of common pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics. The company's organic honey, in particular, must adhere to even stricter standards to receive its USDA certification.

Comparing Nate's Classic vs. Organic Honey Testing

While both Nature Nate's classic (orange cap) and organic (green cap) honeys undergo the same stringent testing for purity, there are key differences in their sourcing and certification.


Feature	Nate's Classic Honey	Nate's Organic Honey
Sourcing	A blend of high-quality U.S. and international varietals.	Sourced internationally from trusted partners to meet USDA organic standards.
Pesticide/Herbicide Testing	Rigorously tested internally and by third-party labs to ensure a clean read.	Rigorously tested to meet and exceed USDA organic standards, which prohibits synthetic pesticides.
Organic Certification	Cannot be certified organic due to untraceable bee flight paths in the U.S..	USDA-certified organic, ensuring the honey is from bees foraging on organic plants.
Adulteration Testing	Tested for additives like corn syrup or rice syrup.	Also tested for additives like corn syrup or rice syrup.

The Challenge of Pollinator Foraging

One of the main reasons U.S.-sourced honey cannot be certified organic is the challenge of controlling where bees forage. Bees have a flight radius of several miles, making it nearly impossible to guarantee they only visit organic flowers. This is why Nate's organic honey is sourced internationally, where different standards and regulations make USDA certification possible. The company addresses this head-on, explaining that while their classic U.S. blend isn't organic by certification, it still meets their high standards for purity through extensive testing.

Independent Lab Results

Beyond the company's internal procedures, third-party testing has also confirmed the purity of Nature Nate's honey. For instance, a recent independent test conducted by Mamavation in early 2024 sent Nature Nate's organic honey to an EPA-certified laboratory. The results showed a non-detectable level for glyphosate, a common herbicide, and over 500 other pesticides, herbicides, and fungicides. This kind of independent verification further validates the company's commitment to delivering a clean product.

The Importance of Raw and Unfiltered Honey

As a raw and unfiltered product, Nate's honey retains many of the naturally occurring components that are often removed during the pasteurization and filtration process of other honeys. This includes natural enzymes, pollen, vitamins, and antioxidants, which contribute to its nutritional profile. The gentle warming process used by Nature Nate's simply makes the honey pourable, rather than subjecting it to the high heat that would destroy these beneficial elements. This preservation of natural goodness is a key aspect of their quality promise.

Conclusion

For consumers asking, "does Nate's honey use pesticides?", the answer is a definitive no, according to the company's robust testing protocols. Through a combination of internal quality assurance and independent third-party laboratory analysis, Nature Nate's ensures its honey is free from common pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics. While sourcing practices differ for their classic versus organic lines, the commitment to a pure, raw, and unfiltered final product remains consistent across all varieties. This dedication provides a reliable choice for families seeking a safe, natural sweetener. For more details, see the Nature Nate's Purity Guarantee [https://www.naturenates.com/purity-guarantee/].

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, Nature Nate's explicitly states that every batch of its honey is tested by both in-house and third-party laboratories to ensure it is free from common pesticides, herbicides, and antibiotics.

Both the organic and classic varieties are tested for pesticides. However, the organic honey is sourced internationally and certified by the USDA, guaranteeing bees forage in organic areas. The classic honey, sourced from the U.S., is still tested for purity, but cannot be certified organic due to untraceable bee flight paths.

The USDA will not certify honey as organic if it's sourced from the continental U.S. because bees can fly several miles, making it impossible to guarantee they only forage on organic plants and crops.

Yes, independent third-party labs have tested Nature Nate's honey. A recent test by Mamavation confirmed non-detectable levels of glyphosate and over 500 other pesticides in their organic honey.

Raw and unfiltered means the honey is minimally processed. It is gently warmed for pourability and lightly strained to remove large wax pieces, not filtered, which helps retain natural pollen, enzymes, and antioxidants.

Nature Nate's maintains long-standing, trusting relationships with its beekeeper partners. They provide beekeepers with testing services and require adherence to strict quality control measures to ensure pure, unadulterated honey.

Yes, in addition to pesticides and herbicides, Nature Nate's performs testing on all its honey batches for the absence of antibiotics.