Honey is a valuable and irreplaceable ingredient throughout the entire human history. Its health benefits have been used for centuries, and its delicious taste has been appreciated until today. However, due to its innumerate advantages, honey usually is sold a bit expensively.

Therefore, numerous people often purchase the cheapest they can find in the supermarket, or the ones with the best misleading advertisement, or even the one in the best-looking container. Yet, note that this does not mean that you are buying the best product and that the honey is pure.

Namely, in order to lower the price, honey is often subjected to numerous alterations. Hence, do not let to be misled by the price and always aim for the best quality.

Namely, a public research conducted by the Food Safety News provided a rather alarming findings concerning honey. Namely, they have discovered that even 76% of all types of honey available in supermarkets has been subjected to ultra filtration.

This process is a filtration which removes impurities like wax traces, but the pollen as well.

According to manufacturers, this process is needed in order to prolong the shelf life of the product and prevent “crystallizing”. Yet, those who consume honey regularly know that pollen is extremely important and beneficial.

According to these researchers, the major reason to avoid this process is in order to be able to determine the geographical origin of the honey, as in cases of pollen contamination, the origin needs to be analyzed and traced.

Chinese honey is an example of this, as it is often contaminated with illegal antibiotics and metals, since producers process honey in this way  in order to import it, and its origin is unknown.

Therefore, we can suggest a few brands and places where you can purchase honey which lacks pollen:

• Honey types sold at Walgreen’s and CVS Pharmacy do not contain pollen.
• Certain packages of KFC and McDonald honey do not contain pollen.
• Honey Winnie the Pooh which can be bought at Walmart does not have pollen.
• 77% of the honey sold at Costco, Target and Sam’s Club do not have pollen.

Moreover, there are also honey types which have been combined with glucose, as well as others which are high in poor-quality mead. Adulterated honey is the one that is not in its purest form.

Apparently, adulterated honey is often sold in the supermarkets, so you should learn how to recognize it:

• If the honey you have bought does not “crystallize” over time, it may be adulterated, since the pure one will crystallize over time or when kept in the fridge.
• Read labels: Always read the label on the honey, and if it contains commercial glucose or high fructose corn syrup, avoid it.
• Add some iodine drops in a glass of water and add some honey afterward. Your honey has been adulterated with flour or starch in case it turns blue.
• Add a couple drops of vinegar in a glass of water with honey. If this creates foam, your honey has been adulterated with plaster.
• Burn the honey with phosphorus or a match, and if it ignites, it is pure honey.
• Put a spoon of honey in a glass of water. In case the honey does not dissolve, it is pure. Fake honey or poor-quality honey dissolves in water.

Source: www.healthyfoodvision.com