SPAR Austria has launched an inspection of all own-brand honey after it was reported that honey sold in stores in Germany could be adulterated.
The European Professional Beekeepers Association (EPBA) conducted DNA tests on 30 honey samples from German stores and found that 25 were diluted with sugar syrup.
As the news of honey adulteration spread to Austria – where SPAR Austria's own-brand honey mainly comes from – the retailer removed seven own-brand honey SKUs containing imported honey from Europe pending the outcome of the investigation.
Supporting Local Beekeepers
SPAR Austria has been consciously promoting local honey for many years and now has 252 different Austrian honeys in its range, often from small local beekeepers.
SPAR Austria board member Markus Kaser said, "We are committed to supporting local beekeepers because honey is not only an excellent regional, natural product, but bees are an important factor in the ecosystem and food production.
"We want to fight with all means at our disposal to ensure that this valuable product is preserved and that consumers at SPAR Austria can be sure that they are enjoying guaranteed real honey.”
Major Inspection Ordered
The first products sent for laboratory testing include five items under the S-BUDGET brand and two from SPAR Natur*pur range.
Until the results arrive, these products have also been removed from the shelves and are not available.
The honeys of SPAR Austria's own brands come from Austria, and in some cases the beekeepers are named on the front of the product.
The producers are contractually obliged by SPAR Austria not to use any honey other than their own.
These honeys are now also being tested for authenticity by a testing laboratory.
Due to the long-standing and close cooperation with the beekeepers, SPAR Austria assumes that everything will be fine.
Branded goods SPAR Austria requires a written guarantee from the branded goods manufacturers whose honey is included in its range that the products are pure honey.
