FDA Posts Draft Guidance on Honey Labeling
The Food and Drug Administration announced on April 8 a new draft guidance document on labeling of honey and honey products. The draft guidance includes a question and answer section that addresses how to label pure honey, blends of honey and a sweetener, and honey with flavoring ingredients. To ensure consideration before FDA finalizes its guidance, comments are due by June 9, according to a concurrent Federal Register notice (here).
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Honey. Product that is 100% honey may be labeled as honey, and no ingredient statement is needed, said FDA. The floral source of the honey may also be listed, provided that the producer can demonstrate the flower listed on the label is the chief source.
Honey and sweeteners. Blends of honey and sweeteners like sugar or corn syrup cannot be labeled as only honey, said the agency. Instead, they must be labeled as a common name that identifies the nature of the blend, like “blend of sugar and honey” if the mixture has more sugar than honey. All ingredients would also have to be listed in an ingredient statement. If not, the product is adulterated.
Honey and flavorants. Blends of honey with other ingredients, like natural raspberry flavor, must be labeled as such (for example, “raspberry flavored honey”) and have an ingredients statement. If not, the product is misbranded, said FDA.