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Öko-Tester Frequently pollutant in honey
Honey is generally considered a natural product and is often associated with positive health properties. For example, honey is a popular natural home remedy for cough or tonsillitis. But in the end, honey remains "a reflection of nature from which it originates," according to the journal "Öko-Test", in whose latest issue the results of a honey test are presented.
According to "Öko-Test" some glyphosate and genetic engineering from Monsanto are in the honey jar. This applies "not only for conventional, but also for some organic products." Although a total of eight out of 20 tested honeys were quite convincing, but with a large part of the products, the testers were not satisfied. In addition to the harmful ingredients criticized "eco-test" that often is not clear from which region the honey comes from.
Öko-Test has detected residues of pollutants in numerous honey brands. (Image: Dani Vincek / fotolia.com) Pollutant residues also in organic honey
For the current study, 20 brands of conventional and organic honey have been sent to the laboratory and their quality checked. The result was sobering: In many cases, the products contained pollutants and pollen of genetically modified plants. It also affected organic honeys. "Thus, the commissioned laboratory found just in two organic honey residues of the drug Amitraz", which is used to control the Varoa mite and in organic beekeeping is expressly prohibited, reports "eco-test".
Glyphosate in four products
The herbicide glyphosate, the latest use of which has sparked much debate after the World Health Organization (WHO) judged it "likely to be carcinogenic," has been demonstrated in four products. While low levels of human health risk are unlikely to affect us, the herbicide destroys weeds, which are an important food source for bees.
Insecticide a risk to bees
Another direct risk to the bees is the insecticide thiacloprid, which the testers discovered in six honeys. The venom disturbed the sense of orientation of the bees, explains "Öko-Test". Although far-reaching statements on toxicity in bees are controversial, but the insecticide is certainly dangerous for bees, according to the Federal German Environment and Nature Conservation Union (BUND).
Natural plant toxins with risky effects
The study also found that six honey jars contained elevated levels of pyrrolizidine alkaloids. These natural poisons are formed by plants as protection against predators, but are considered to be liver damaging and carcinogenic in humans, according to the announcement of "eco-test". Even the Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR) had warned in the past before the Pyrrolizidinalkaloiden in honey Practice the collected pollen get the poison in the honey. Here, "raw honeys from certain countries in Central and South America have higher contents compared to raw honeys from some European countries", reports the BfR. The quantities contained were "of concern to both children and adults on prolonged (chronic) intake."
Genetically modified pollen in honey
The commissioned laboratory also stated in the current test that genetically modified pollen from soybean or oilseed rape was detected in all examined brands containing honey from America, reports "Öko-Test". From which region the honey comes, is not always recognizable, because the vendors often leave consumers in the dark about it: on the packaging are indications of origin such as "mixture of honey from EU countries and non-EU countries" imprinted, but hardly Have information content.
Organic honeys are generally recommended
Despite all criticism, honey is sometimes the healthy natural product that consumers expect. Eight products were rated "very good" or "good", including five organic products, according to the "Öko-Test" statement. Basically, organic honey is more likely to be recommended. Even if this is not guaranteed pesticide-free, because the same residue limits apply to organic honeys as for conventional products, the purchase of organic honey remains more useful, reports the consumer magazine. Because organic beekeepers have to meet much stricter regulations in beekeeping and, for example, must not prune the queen bee's wings in order to prevent them from swarming, so "eco-test" on. (Fp)