Honey isn't always as natural as it seems; there’s plenty of a shady side to it.
Though it has been a kitchen staple and natural sweetener for centuries, recently it has been making headlines not just for its taste but for some really serious controversies and surprising innovations.
So, firstly, I learned that there is a “Viagra honey” in France. The French authorities have cracked down on thousands of tonnes of it marketed as a natural aphrodisiac, but they secretly mixed it with prescription drugs like Viagra. These dodgy products mostly come from Malaysia, Thailand, and Turkey. They pose real health risks, but keep popping up despite the warnings because people keep consuming them.
Then again, just a few days ago, there was a controversy about steel shards in US honey. A recall was issued for a few flavoured jars due to contamination with tiny steel fragments. Though no injuries have occurred yet, it is a reminder to be cautious.
So scientists are developing technology to spot the fake and contaminated ones that we cannot see with our eyes. They can spot it without opening the jar (I am a little sceptical about it), but the technique (like spatial offset Raman spectroscopy and DNA coding) can detect syrup adulteration and could identify sugars at a very low level, which makes it sound promising for some honey lovers.
On the safe side, I think we need to keep ourselves updated in general with recalls and food alerts.
References: (worth the read) FDA issues nationwide recall of kitchen basic over fears of steel contamination.Honey pack advertised as a sexual enhancement FDA-Royal Honey VIP contains hidden drug ingredientMr. Strong Guy Honey for Him contains a hidden drug ingredient.'Viagra Honey': the illegal aphrodisiac France can't get enough Honey Girl contains hidden drug ingredientNew technology will help prevent the sale of adulterated honey
Image courtesy of Freepik
