Consumers who thought they were buying locally produced honey are likely to be left with a bitter taste in their mouths on foot of a Food Safety Authority of Ireland honey investigation, writes Seán MacConnell, Agriculture Correspondent.
It has discovered that a quarter of randomly selected Irish honeys sourced from manufacturers and shops around the country were not Irish at all and bore misleading labels of origin.
Instead of buying Irish, the consumers were eating Spanish, South American, eastern European and even Chinese produced honey.
As a result of the breaches uncovered by analytical methods, five food business operators were fully audited, including packers, brand owners and/or retailers of the samples in question.
The FSAI said it was working with retailers to ensure the affected products were removed from sale.
The FSAI survey, entitled Analytical and Traceability Survey to Determine the Authenticity of Honey Labelled as Irish on the Irish Market, was conducted by the FSAI between July 2005 and April last.
As part of the survey, analysis of the floral origins of honeys was carried out by identifying the pollens found in the honey. This enabled Irish honey to be distinguished from foreign honey, said the statement.
The five non-Irish honey products identified by the FSAI survey were:
Molaga Pure Honey: the label inferred Irish origin, but the survey indicated honey of Mediterranean/Spanish origin;
Kilkenny Pure Irish Honey: labelled as Irish, but the survey indicated honey of Mediterranean/Spanish origin;
Natural Ireland Honey: labelled as Irish, but the survey indicated honey of Mediterranean/Spanish origin;
Irish Honey - Wheelock's Fruit Stall: labelled as Irish, but the survey indicated honey of South American origin;
Wexford Honey - Jim Kenny: labelled as Irish, but the survey indicated honey of eastern European or Chinese origin.
The FSAI has urged the food industry to be vigilant when sourcing honey labelled as "Irish". Jeffrey Moon, the FSAI's chief specialist on environmental health, reminded food business operators to ensure they keep adequate traceability information on products and to only purchase honey labelled as Irish from reputable sources.
"Consumers' interests are being undermined by operators who are too willing to exploit those who are seeking genuine Irish products. This is not acceptable," he said.