Does Store-Bought Honey Have Additives? The Unfiltered Truth

December 17, 2025 •

4 min read

In 2020, a study by the Department of Science and Technology in the Philippines found that approximately 80% of honey products sold in markets were not pure honey, containing sugar syrup instead. So, does store-bought honey have additives? For many commercial brands, the answer is yes.

Quick Summary

Many commercial honey products are diluted with cheaper sweeteners like corn, rice, or cane syrup to increase volume and lower costs. Processing also removes beneficial compounds. It is important to know the difference between raw, pure, and adulterated honey to make informed purchases.

Key Points

Adulteration is Common: Many commercially sold honey products contain hidden additives like corn, rice, and cane sugar syrups to cut costs.
Processing Diminishes Quality: Intensive heating and ultra-filtration, common in producing store-bought honey, remove beneficial enzymes, antioxidants, and pollen.
Labeling can be Misleading: A "pure honey" label doesn't guarantee the product is unprocessed or hasn't been diluted, especially if it is not certified raw.
Check for Crystallization: Authentic, raw honey naturally crystallizes over time. If a product remains perfectly liquid indefinitely, it may be heavily processed or adulterated.
Home Tests can Indicate Purity: Simple tests like the water, thumb, and flame tests can offer clues about whether your honey is pure or has been diluted with fillers.
Buying Local is Safest: Sourcing honey directly from local beekeepers is one of the most reliable ways to ensure you are getting a pure, authentic, and minimally processed product.
Be Aware of Food Fraud: Honey is one of the most fraudulent food items globally, with suppliers sometimes disguising origin through tactics like pollen removal.

The Deceptive Reality of Adulteration

It's a common misconception that all honey on supermarket shelves is pure and untouched. Unfortunately, a significant portion of commercially available honey has been adulterated with cheaper fillers to maximize profits. This fraudulent practice has led to honey becoming one of the world's most commonly faked food items. The additives used are often sugar-based syrups that mimic the sweetness of honey while significantly cutting production costs. Consumers seeking natural health benefits may unknowingly be buying little more than sugar water.

Raw Honey vs. Processed Honey

Understanding the difference between raw and processed honey is crucial when assessing purity. Raw honey is typically unfiltered and unheated, retaining all its natural enzymes, vitamins, antioxidants, and pollen. Processed honey, which constitutes most store-bought varieties, undergoes a different journey to the bottle. The processing typically involves flash-heating and ultra-filtration. This intensive treatment is used to prevent crystallization and create a clear, uniform product with a longer shelf-life. However, this also strips the honey of its natural pollen and other beneficial compounds. While still technically "pure" if no other ingredients are added, the processing significantly diminishes its nutritional value compared to raw honey. Some "pure" honey may still have added sugars, depending on regional labeling regulations, so reading labels carefully is key.

Why Additives Are Used

There are several reasons why unscrupulous suppliers add ingredients to honey:

Cost Reduction: The primary motivation is to increase the volume of the product with inexpensive fillers like high-fructose corn syrup, rice syrup, or cane sugar. This allows them to sell it at a much lower price point, undercutting honest producers.
Extended Shelf Life: Heating and adding preservatives can prevent fermentation and delay crystallization, keeping the product in an appealing liquid state for longer.
Hiding Origin: A practice known as "honey laundering" involves removing all pollen from the honey through ultra-filtration. Since pollen acts as a geographical fingerprint, its removal makes it difficult for authorities to trace the honey's origin and verify its authenticity.

How to Spot Adulterated Honey

Become a honey detective with these simple home tests:

The Water Test: Place a teaspoon of honey into a glass of room-temperature water. Pure honey is denser and will sink to the bottom in a single clump. Adulterated honey will often start to dissolve immediately, creating a cloudy effect.
The Thumb Test: Place a single drop of honey on your thumb. If it stays in place without spreading, it's likely pure. If it spreads or is watery, it may contain added moisture or syrup.
The Crystallization Test: Pure honey will naturally crystallize over time, turning from a liquid to a thicker, grainier state. If your honey remains perfectly liquid for an extended period, it's a potential red flag that it has been heavily processed or cut with syrup.
The Flame Test: Dip a cotton swab or a matchstick into the honey and hold it to a flame. Pure honey is flammable due to its low moisture content and will burn steadily. If it splutters, cracks, or fails to burn, it indicates the presence of added water.

Pure Honey vs. Adulterated Honey


Characteristic	Pure Honey (Typically Raw)	Adulterated Honey (Fake or Blended)
Pollen Content	Retains pollen, can be traced to origin	Ultra-filtered to remove all pollen
Processing	Unheated and unfiltered	Flash-heated and ultra-filtered
Appearance	Often opaque or cloudy, may contain small particles	Almost perfectly clear and transparent
Viscosity	Thicker, slower to pour	Runny or watery consistency
Crystallization	Naturally crystallizes over time	Often stays liquid indefinitely due to processing/additives
Taste Profile	Rich, complex flavor with floral notes	Bland, overly sweet taste

How to Find Authentic Honey

To ensure you are buying the real deal, follow these steps:

Read Labels Carefully: Look for terms like "raw," "unfiltered," or "unprocessed". Be cautious with products simply labeled "pure," as they may still be heated and filtered. Check the ingredients list for anything other than "honey".
Buy Local: Purchasing from local beekeepers at farmers' markets or dedicated apiaries is one of the best ways to get pure, unprocessed honey. You can often speak directly with the producer about their methods.
Seek Certifications: Look for certifications from reputable organizations. For specialized products like Manuka honey, look for official ratings. For organic honey, verify the country of origin, as international standards differ.
Check the Price: If the price seems too good to be true compared to local or raw varieties, it likely is. Low prices often indicate dilution with cheap sugar syrups.

Conclusion

While it is safe to consume processed, store-bought honey, many popular brands are not what they seem. A significant portion of commercially available honey contains cheaper syrups and has been stripped of its natural health-boosting properties through intensive processing. By understanding the signs of adulteration and choosing to buy from transparent, reliable sources, you can ensure you are getting authentic honey with all the natural benefits it's celebrated for. For more insights on honey quality, consider exploring resources from beekeeping associations, such as Hives Keeper, which discusses the impact of filtration. Your conscious choice supports ethical beekeepers and protects the integrity of this golden nectar.

Frequently Asked Questions

The most common additives in adulterated honey are cheap sugar-based syrups, including corn syrup, high-fructose corn syrup, rice syrup, and cane sugar syrup.

Not necessarily. While a "pure honey" label typically means no other ingredients were added, the honey may still be heavily processed through heating and ultra-filtration. This processing can remove natural pollen and enzymes, unlike raw honey.

Simple home tests include the water test (pure honey sinks), the thumb test (pure honey stays intact), and the flame test (pure honey burns). These aren't foolproof but can provide a good indication.

Authentic, raw honey naturally crystallizes. If a honey product remains liquid indefinitely, it has likely been heavily processed with heat and filtration to remove the particles that initiate crystallization, or it has been diluted with syrups.

Raw honey is unprocessed and unheated, retaining its natural components like pollen and enzymes. Regular honey is pasteurized and filtered, giving it a clearer appearance and longer shelf life but stripping it of some nutritional benefits.

Yes, honey laundering is a fraudulent practice where suppliers remove pollen to obscure the honey's origin. This can be combined with dilution using cheap sweeteners to misrepresent the product and evade tariffs.

Generally, yes. Buying honey directly from local beekeepers or farmers' markets is one of the best ways to ensure you get a pure, minimally processed product. You can often speak with the beekeeper about their methods.