Finnish retailers respond to honey fraud allegations amid concerns of counterfeit imports

Finnish retailers are taking allegations of honey fraud seriously and are awaiting further details. Concerns surfaced on Thursday suggesting that up to 60% of honey imported from outside the EU could be counterfeit. Testing conducted in Estonia using a new DNA analysis method confirmed that Finnish samples were authentic.

According to the Finnish Beekeepers’ Association, much of the counterfeit honey originates from Asia, particularly China, and may be produced by mixing it with sugar syrup. We reached out to three major retail chains for their views on these allegations.

S Group, which sells honey from Finland, EU countries, and beyond, has stated that Asian honey is not available in their stores. Their marketplace director, Sari Ristaniemi, noted they will not pull honey from shelves as a precautionary measure. “Before any decisions on product recalls can be made, we need to ensure the reliability of the results,” she explained. As of now, there is no verified DNA method approved for broader use in identifying counterfeit honey.

Kesko’s Honey and Beekeeping Manager, Matti Kalervo, mentioned that their stores also offer honey mainly from Ukraine and South America, while they have decided against procuring Chinese honey due to fraud concerns. He emphasized that ensuring product authenticity is a responsibility of the retailers and manufacturers, not consumers.

Lidl, on the other hand, offers six types of honey sourced from both inside and outside the EU, alongside three domestic options. The retailer engages in regular authenticity testing, including pollen analysis and comprehensive sugar composition tests.

The Finnish Food Authority stresses the importance of the entire food supply chain ensuring that honey is genuine, placing the responsibility on operators so consumers can trust the products they purchase.