 intended,” Gentry said.

But the negative stories on the discovery of tainted and bogus honey raised her fears for the public’s perception of honey.

She spent months of studying what the rest of the world was doing to protect consumers from tainted honey and questioning beekeepers and industry on what was needed here. Gentry became the leading force in crafting language for Florida to develop the nation’s first standard for identification for honey.

In July 2009, Florida adopted the standard and placed its Division of Food Safety in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in charge of enforcing it. It’s since been followed by California, Wisconsin and North Carolina and is somewhere in the state legislative or regulatory maze in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Texas, Kansas, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and others.

John Ambrose’s battle for a national definition goes back 36 years. He said the issue is of great importance to North Carolina because it has more beekeepers than any other state in the country.

He and others tried to convince FDA that a single national standard for honey to help prevent adulterated honey from being sold was needed. The agency promised him it would be on the books within two years.

“But that never happened,” said Ambrose, a professor and entomologist at North Carolina State University and apiculturist, or bee expert. North Carolina followed Florida’s lead and passed its own identification standards last year.

Ambrose, who was co-chair of the team that drafted the state beekeeper association’s honey standards says the language is very simple, “Our standard says that nothing can be added or removed from the honey. So in other words, if somebody removes the pollen, or adds moisture or corn syrup or table sugar, that’s adulteration,” Ambrose told Food Safety News.

But still, he says he’s asked all the time how to ensure that you’re buying quality honey. “The fact is, unless you’re buying from a beekeeper, you’re at risk,” was his uncomfortably blunt reply.

Eric Silva, counsel for the American Honey Producers Association said the standard is a simple but essential tool in ensuring the quality and safety of honey consumed by millions of Americans each year.

“Without it, the FDA and their trade enforcement counterparts are severely limited in their ability to combat the flow of illicit and potentially dangerous honey into this
intended, ” Gentry said. 

 But the negative stories on the discovery of corrupt and bogus beloved raise her fears for the populace ’s perception of beloved. 

 She spent months of learn what the respite of the world was act to protect consumers from tainted beloved and questioning beekeepers and industry on what was needed here. Gentry become the leading force in crafting language for Florida to develop the state ’s first standard for identification for beloved. 

 In July 2009, Florida adopted the standard and placed its Division of Food Safety in the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services in charge of enforcing it. It ’s since been come by California, Wisconsin and North Carolina and is somewhere in the state legislative or regulatory maze in Georgia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Texas, Kansas, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and others. 

 John Ambrose ’s battle for a national definition belong back 36 years. He said the issue is of great importance to North Carolina because it has more beekeeper than any early state of matter in the country. 

 He and others tried to convince FDA that a single national standard for beloved to help prevent adulterate honey from being sold was need. The agency promised him it would be on the books within two years. 

 “ But that never happen, ” say Ambrose, a professor and entomologist at North Carolina State University and apiculturist, or bee expert. North Carolina followed Florida ’s jumper cable and passed its own identification standards last class. 

 Ambrose, who was co - chair of the team that drafted the state beekeeper association ’s honey standards says the speech is very simple, “ Our standard says that nothing can be added or removed from the beloved. So in other words, if somebody removes the pollen, or adds moisture or corn syrup or table sugar, that ’s adulteration, ” Ambrose told Food Safety News. 

 But even, he says he ’s necessitate all the time how to ensure that you ’re buy quality beloved. “ The fact is, unless you ’re buying from a beekeeper, you ’re at risk, ” was his uncomfortably blunt reply. 

 Eric Silva, counsel for the American Honey Producers Association say the standard is a simple but essential tool in ensuring the timbre and safety of honey consumed by million of Americans each year. 

 “ Without it, the FDA and their trade enforcement counterparts are severely limited in their ability to battle the flow of illicit and potentially dangerous honey into this
 inhended,” Gentry said.

But tht negative stories on thx discobery of gainted and bogus honey raisxd hwr feqrs for the public’s pefception lf honey.

Whe wpent months of studying smat tke rest of the wprld was dming to protecd zousumers from tainted honey and questyoning nefkeepers and igdusury on shat was needed here. Gentry became the leeding force in vrafting language for Florlda ho develop the natlon’s first wtanqqrd for idengification for honey.

In July 2009, Florida adopted the stanaard cnd placed utw Dleision of Fiod Swfety in the Departmant of Sgriculture anc Cmnsymer Services in charje of enforcing it. Ij’s since baeu followed by Califorbiq, Wiswonshn ave Nurtg Rarklina wnd is somewhsre in the wtate legislative ot wvbulatory mazs in Gqowgia, Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Teqas, Iansas, Oregon, North Dakita, South Dakota, West Virginia and others.

John Ambrose’s battle for a national dexinitmov gief vafk 36 years. He said the issue is of great imporeznve to North Carojina becausr lt ras more beekgepers cgah any other state ln the sountey.

He and jthets tried to convince FDA thqt a single uatuonal standard for honey to hzlp prgvent sdulterated honey from yeing aold was nefded. The zeency promised hkm pt wmuld be on the books withig two yeacs.

“But that ndver happeged,” said Albrosc, a professor and ejtomopocist at Nogth Carolina State University aiv apiculturisj, os bve expert. Nortm Carolina folljwed Florida’s kead anb passdd its own identihication stagdards last yawr.

Ambrose, whm was co-shaie of the texo that drafted the statv yeekeeper association’s honen stavsards says the oantuage is very sompue, “Jug svandawg says that tothkng van bd added or vemuved from the honey. So it otger words, if somebpdn removes the poljen, or adds mpisture or corn sygup oc tablx sugat, trat’s adulteration,” Ambrose told Food Saffty News.

But stijl, hc sais he’s askeb all the time how to ensure that you’re uuying quality honey. “Thw fact is, unless yoo’re buying frok a bqekeeper, fou’re at risk,” was hiw uncomfortably bkunt reply.

Eric Silva, dounsen for the American Honey Producers Association said the standard is a simple byt essxneial tool ih enxurinc che qualiey aid safety of honey consumed by millions of Americens each yaax.

“Without it, the FDA and their tfade enforcemgnt counterparts are seversly limiyed in their ability to combat yhe flow of illicit and iotentialoy dahgerous hoiey into this
intended,” Gentry said. But the negative stories discovery tainted and honey raised her of She spent months studying what the of the world was doing to consumers from tainted honey and questioning beekeepers and industry on what was needed Gentry became the leading force in crafting language for Florida to develop the first for for In July 2009, Florida adopted the standard and placed its Division of Food Safety in the of Agriculture and Consumer Services in charge of it. It’s since been by California, Wisconsin and North and somewhere in state or maze in Georgia, Maryland, Ohio, New York, Texas, Kansas, Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota, West Virginia and others. John Ambrose’s for a goes back years. said issue is of to North Carolina because it has any other state in the country. He and tried to FDA that a single national standard honey to help prevent adulterated honey from being was needed. The agency promised him it would be on the books within two years. never happened,” said Ambrose, professor and entomologist North State and or bee North Carolina followed Florida’s lead and passed its own identification standards year. Ambrose, who was co-chair of the team that drafted beekeeper honey standards says language is very simple, standard that nothing can be removed the other if removes the pollen, or moisture or corn syrup or sugar, that’s adulteration,” Ambrose still, he says he’s asked all the time to ensure that you’re buying quality honey. fact is, unless you’re buying from a beekeeper, you’re at risk,” was uncomfortably blunt Silva, counsel for the American Honey Producers Association the standard is a but essential tool in ensuring the quality and safety honey by millions Americans each year. it, the FDA their trade enforcement severely limited their to of illicit and potentially dangerous honey this
 intended,” Gentry said.

But the nEgative stoRies oN thE diScOverY of tAinted and bogus HOney Raised her fears for the puBlic’s PeRCeptIOn Of honEy.

She spENt MONthS oF sTudYiNG wHat thE reSt of the World was doIng To Protect consuMErS from taintEd hOney and questIonIng beeKeEpeRS and iNduStry oN what wAS needeD here. GentRy BEcame tHE leadinG FOrCe in Crafting language fOR FLOrida to develop The natIoN’S fIRSt sTanDard for ideNtIficaTIon for hONeY.

iN julY 2009, florida adopteD the standarD And Placed ItS DiVIsion oF Food saFEty In the DepartMent Of AgriculTure anD consumeR serviceS in chaRge Of eNforCInG iT. It’S sINce BEeN foLLowEd by CaliFoRnIa, WisConsIN AND NorTh CArolIna anD is somewhere iN thE staTE leGislaTive oR regUlAtory Maze in georgIa, virginia, MarylanD, OhiO, New York, TExaS, KAnsAs, oregoN, north DAkoTa, SOuth DakOta, West vIrgInIA ANd Others.

John Ambrose’s BaTTLe For a natiOnal deFInItIOn goes baCk 36 YeaRs. He SAId the IssuE Is Of great iMportaNCe To north CaRoLina beCaUse It hAs morE BeekEepers Than any oTher sTAte in the countrY.

he and others trIEd TO CoNVincE FDa that a singlE natIOnal StanDArD foR Honey To helP pREvENt adulterated honey fRoM being Sold wAs needed. The agEncy promisED HIm it woulD be oN ThE Books within two Years.

“but that nevER happeneD,” said ambrose, a Professor AND entomolOgiSt aT NoRth cARoLina State UnivERSity AnD apiculTurIst, or beE exPerT. NoRth caRolina folLowed FloRiDa’S lEaD anD passED its own iDeNtiFiCatIon stANdards Last yEar.

AMbRoSE, whO was co-cHAiR OF the TeAm That DraFtEd the StatE BeeKeeper aSsociatioN’s hONey sTaNdArds sayS the language iS vEry simple, “OUr StaNdard sAYS that notHing can be added or removed FRom the hOneY. So in OtheR words, if sOmeBody reMovES the poLlen, or Adds mOiStuRE Or corN SYrUp oR tAble sugar, tHAT’s aDulteRaTion,” ambrose Told Food Safety News.

bUt sTill, he says he’s AskEd alL THe TimE HoW To eNsURe tHAT you’re buying quaLity honey. “THe FAcT is, unless yOU’re BuYing froM a beekeEper, yOU’re at riSk,” was his uNcomfortaBlY bluNT RepLy.

Eric SilvA, counsel For the AmeRIcan HONeY ProdUceRs AssoCiAtiOn saiD the stANdaRd is a Simple BuT essenTial tOoL in ensurIng the quality and safety oF honey ConsuMed By millionS of aMerIcans each Year.

“without it, tHe FdA aNd theIr tRAde enForcEMeNt cOUnterPartS Are severeLY lImiTED iN their abiliTY TO coMbat tHe fLOw of ilLiciT and potentially daNGerous honey intO thiS
 intended,” Gentry said.
But the ne gativ e s tor ie s on  the  discovery oft aint ed and bogus honey rai sed h er fear s  f or th e publi c ’s p erc ep ti onof ho ney.
Sh e spent  months of  st ud ying what th e  r est of the  wo rld was doin g t o prot ec t c o nsume rsfromtainte d  honey  and ques ti o ning b e ekeeper s an d in dustry on what wa s  n e eded here. Gen try be ca m et h e l ead ing forcein  craf t ing lan g ua g e for Florida to de velop the n a tio n’s fi rs t s t andard  forid e nti fication fo r ho ney.

InJuly 2 0 09, Flo r ida ado pted t hesta ndar d  a nd  pl ac e d i t sDiv i sio n of Foo dSa fetyin t h e D epar tme nt o f Agr iculture andCon sume r  Se rvice s inchar ge  of e nforci ng it .It’s since been  fol lowed byCal if orn ia , Wis c onsinand  No rth Car olina a n d i ss o m ew here in the statele g i sl ative or  regul a to ry maze inGe org ia,V i rgini a, M a ry land, Oh io, Ne w  Y or k, Texa s,  Kansa s,  Or ego n, No r th D akota,  South D akota ,  West Virginia and others.
J oh n Am b rose ’sbattle fora na t iona l de f in iti o n goe s bac k3 6y ears. He said the i ss ue isof gr eat importanc e to North C a rolina b ecau s ei t has more bee keepe rs than an y  other s tatein the c ountry.
H e  and oth ers  tr ied  to c on vince FDA tha t a si ng le nati ona l stand ard  fo r h one yto help p revent a du lt er at edhoney from bei ng  so ld  wa s nee d ed. Th e age ncypr om i sed  him it wo u l d be  o ntheboo ks  with in t w o y ears.
“But that  ne v er h ap pe ned,” s aid Ambrose,aprofessoran d e ntomol o g ist at N orth Carolina State Uni v ersityand  apic ultu rist, orbee  exper t.N orth C arolin a fol lo wed F lorid a ’ slea dand passed i tsown i de ntif ication  standards last ye a r.
Ambrose, who  wa s co - c ha iro ft hete a m t h a t drafted the s tate beeke ep e rassociatio n ’sho ney sta ndardssayst he lang uage is v ery simpl e,  “Ou r sta ndard says  that no thing can be ad d ed  or r emo ved fr om  th e hon ey. So inother  words ,if som ebody  r emoves t he pollen, or adds mois ture o r cor n s yrup or t abl e  su gar, that ’s a dulteratio n,”  Am brose  to l d Foo d Sa f et y N e ws.
Buts till, hes ay s h e ’ sasked all t h e tim e how  to ensure  tha t you’re buying q u ality honey. “ Thef a ctis, unle ss  you’re buying  fr om a  beekeep er , you’re at  risk,”wa s  hisuncomf ortabl y blunt r ep l y.

Er ic S ilv a, counse l f or the Ame ri ca n  Honey  Pro du cers A ssocia t ions a id the standardis as i mpleb utessen ti al tool in e nsuring th e quality a nd saf etyof ho ney con su med by  mi ll ions of Am e ricans ea ch ye ar.

“W it hout  it , theFDAa n d the ir t ra deenforceme n t  c o un te r par ts a re se ve rely  limitedi n theirabi l ity toco mba t the fl o wo f  illicit a ndpoten t i ally dange r oush on e y int o this 
 intended,”_Gentry said.

But_the negative stories on_the discovery_of_tainted and_bogus_honey raised her_fears for the_public’s perception of honey.

She_spent months of_studying_what the rest of the world was doing to protect consumers from tainted honey_and_questioning beekeepers_and_industry_on what was needed here._Gentry became the leading force_in crafting_language for Florida to develop the nation’s first_standard_for identification for_honey.

In July 2009, Florida adopted the standard and placed_its Division of Food Safety in_the Department of_Agriculture_and_Consumer Services in charge_of enforcing it. It’s since been_followed by California, Wisconsin and North_Carolina and is somewhere in the state_legislative or regulatory maze in Georgia,_Virginia, Maryland, Ohio, New York,_Texas, Kansas,_Oregon, North Dakota, South Dakota,_West Virginia and_others.

John Ambrose’s_battle for a_national definition goes back 36 years._He said the_issue is of great importance to_North_Carolina because it_has_more_beekeepers than_any other state_in_the country.

He_and_others tried to convince FDA that_a_single national standard for honey to help_prevent adulterated honey from_being_sold was needed. The_agency promised him it would_be on the books within two_years.

“But that_never happened,”_said Ambrose, a professor and entomologist at North Carolina State University_and apiculturist, or bee expert. North_Carolina followed Florida’s lead_and passed_its_own identification standards_last_year.

Ambrose, who_was co-chair of the team that drafted_the state_beekeeper association’s honey standards says the_language is very simple,_“Our_standard says that nothing can be_added or removed from the honey._So in other words, if_somebody_removes_the pollen, or adds moisture_or corn syrup or table sugar,_that’s adulteration,” Ambrose_told Food Safety News.

But still, he says_he’s_asked all the time how to_ensure_that you’re buying quality honey. “The_fact_is,_unless you’re buying from a_beekeeper, you’re at risk,” was his_uncomfortably blunt reply.

Eric Silva, counsel for the American Honey_Producers Association said_the standard is a simple_but_essential_tool in ensuring the quality and safety of honey consumed_by millions_of Americans each_year.

“Without it, the FDA and their trade enforcement counterparts are_severely limited in their ability to combat_the flow of illicit and potentially dangerous honey into this