An investigation by public broadcaster ZDF has claimed that several German supermarkets are selling brands of “fake” honey to customers.

ZDF accuses German supermarkets of selling “fake” honey

The German public broadcasting network ZDF analysed different honey brands sold in six German supermarkets and claimed that many of the tested products were “inauthentic”. 

According to Germany’s Honey Ordinance Law of 2004, beekeepers and companies selling honey must clearly label honey products which contain a mixture of kinds of honey or have had other ingredients, like sugar water, added to them.

After testing the DNA profiles of seven honey brands at specialised labs in Estonia and Austria, the broadcaster concluded that none were “entirely authentic”. While the test method used is yet to be accredited, experts consider it the first test which can effectively detect “counterfeits”, since all previous test methods did not analyse DNA in honey samples. 

Goldland Blütenhonig (Aldi), Maribel flüssiger Bienenhonig (Lidl), Blütenhonig (Penny), Ja! Blütenhonig (Rewe), Gut & Günstig Blütenhonig (Edeka), Vom Land Blütenhonig (Netto) and Die Flotte Biene (Langnese) were all considered to use a mix of honey or contain added ingredients.

German supermarkets reject “inauthentic honey” claims

“Together with our suppliers, we continuously focus on the authenticity of our honey and have established a wide range of quality assurance measures to guarantee the purity of the blossom honey,” a spokesperson from REWE, which also runs Penny, told ZDF in response.

Writing to ZDF, a representative of Edeka, which owns the discounter supermarket chain Netto, claimed that additional “recognised authenticity tests” were carried out on the food and “no deviations have been detected that would indicate possible adulteration”. 

Lidl joined the chorus of feedback, with a spokesperson saying the results were “incomprehensible”. Meanwhile, Professor Florian Leese, a biologist and DNA analysis specialist, said that the lab results were “particularly convincing” and could be trusted.

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