Aldi Organic Honey?

[Newbeeneil]

As we do I was just looking at supermarket honeys and came across this anomally.

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-organic-clear-honey-340g/4061462272073

Country of origin	United Kingdom
Legal name	Organic Clear Honey
Brand name	Organic

Firstly I think it is impossible to produce Organic Honey in the UK but certainly at that price!
So I assume it isn't actually "organic honey" but any old honey from a company called Organic and they are just using the products "Legal name" on the packaging.

any thoughts?

 

[RJC]

As we do I was just looking at supermarket honeys and came across this anomally.

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-organic-clear-honey-340g/4061462272073

Country of origin	United Kingdom
Legal name	Organic Clear Honey
Brand name	Organic

Firstly I think it is impossible to produce Organic Honey in the UK but certainly at that price!
So I assume it isn't actually "organic honey" but any old honey from a company called Organic and they are just using the products "Legal name" on the packaging.

any thoughts?

It's got a Soil Assoc logo on, which implies it is organic...

 

[JamezF]

As we do I was just looking at supermarket honeys and came across this anomally.

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-organic-clear-honey-340g/4061462272073

Country of origin	United Kingdom
Legal name	Organic Clear Honey
Brand name	Organic

Firstly I think it is impossible to produce Organic Honey in the UK but certainly at that price!
So I assume it isn't actually "organic honey" but any old honey from a company called Organic and they are just using the products "Legal name" on the packaging.

any thoughts?

A quick search on the Soil Association website for honey producers with organic certification only seems to turn up "processors". My money is on it being packed in the UK, but not originating in the UK. It would be interesting to see the back label, assuming there is one.

If I could produce provably organic honey in the UK, absolutely no way would I be knocking it out to Aldi's suppliers for pennies.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

It's got a Soil Assoc logo on, which implies it is organic...

@£1.49 in the UK? No one in their right mind would go to all the hassle of finding and maintaining a UK organic site and sell their honey at that price!

 

[JamezF]

Damn. I didn't realise that climate change had progressed so far already...



(Aldi again).

James

 

[Wilco]

Methinks report to TS...

 

[Erichalfbee]

Yes. Report to TS this is ridiculous
I shop in Lidl so I will check them out too.

 

[JamezF]

To be honest, I'm beyond the point where I believe Trading Standards will do anything about it whatsoever. Possibly the only reason I'd be inclined to report it is to use the fact in evidence to demonstrate that they are not fit for purpose.

James

 

[Newbeeneil]

Yes. Report to TS this is ridiculous
I shop in Lidl so I will check them out too.

I’ve asked the Soil Association what they think of it. They must know that no one in the UK produces Organic honey.

 

[ericbeaumont]

produce Organic Honey in the UK

Littleover Apiaries have been supplying Organic Wildflower Honey for years. Mind you, the small print has the weasel words 'Produce of EU/Non-EU Countries'.

My guess is that Euro countires with more land have greater opportunity to produce clean, accredited honey.

It's got a Soil Assoc logo on, which implies it is organic...

I know a few organic registered growers and one described the annual Soil Association inspection as 'worse than a visit from the police'.

EU Regs. state that honey may be certified as organic when bees are sited where they can forage a radius of 3 km from the apiary where 'nectar and pollen sources consist essentially of organically produced crops or spontaneous vegetation or crops' blah blah.

As the Aldi honey is unlikely to be produce of the UK and Soil Association jursdiction does not include the EU, it would be worth pursuing the Aldi anomaly and boiling these scoundrels in oil.

 

[Cuckmere couple]

Littleover Apiaries have been supplying Organic Wildflower Honey for years. Mind you, the small print has the weasel words 'Produce of EU/Non-EU Countries'.

My guess is that Euro countires with more land have greater opportunity to produce clean, accredited honey.


I know a few organic registered growers and one described the annual Soil Association inspection as 'worse than a visit from the police'.

EU Regs. state that honey may be certified as organic when bees are sited where they can forage a radius of 3 km from the apiary where 'nectar and pollen sources consist essentially of organically produced crops or spontaneous vegetation or crops' blah blah.

As the Aldi honey is unlikely to be produce of the UK and Soil Association jursdiction does not include the EU, it would be worth pursuing the Aldi anomaly and boiling these scoundrels in oil.

so have i understood correctly that a way out of this for Littleover and aldi is to say its EU and then jurisdiction prevents following up to check?

and des it apply to the wax as well as the honey because i think there is all sorts of dodgy sourcing of wax

 

[fian]

In Galicia, CREAGA is the certifying body for organic agriculture and livestock. The requirements to certify a beekeeper are:
A. All your apiaries must meet the conditions. The same beekeeper cannot package organic and conventional honey.
B. Increase in hives by division or purchase from other organic beekeepers. It is also possible to acquire a maximum of 10% of conventional colonies as long as the waxes are of organic origin and the handling they receive is the same as the other hives.
C. 3 km radius according to European legislation. There cannot be large population units, intensive farms, industrial zones, highways, landfills or any other activity that generates polluting products.
D. Use of natural materials for the manufacture of hives. Products for treatments based on propolis, wax, essential oils, or treatments authorized by legislation.
E. You cannot collect honey whose cells contain brood. The materials are disinfected with steam or authorized products according to the legislation.
F. Wax from organic origin or during the conversion period (from capper or free of unauthorized chemicals).
G. It cannot be fed unless there is a risk of survival. If made, it will be made with organic honey from the apiary itself or with certified organic sugar.
H. Will record in a record all the operations carried out on the apiary.

 

[Penninetrader]

In Galicia, CREAGA is the certifying body for organic agriculture and livestock. The requirements to certify a beekeeper are:
A. All your apiaries must meet the conditions. The same beekeeper cannot package organic and conventional honey.
B. Increase in hives by division or purchase from other organic beekeepers. It is also possible to acquire a maximum of 10% of conventional colonies as long as the waxes are of organic origin and the handling they receive is the same as the other hives.
C. 3 km radius according to European legislation. There cannot be large population units, intensive farms, industrial zones, highways, landfills or any other activity that generates polluting products.
D. Use of natural materials for the manufacture of hives. Products for treatments based on propolis, wax, essential oils, or treatments authorized by legislation.
E. You cannot collect honey whose cells contain brood. The materials are disinfected with steam or authorized products according to the legislation.
F. Wax from organic origin or during the conversion period (from capper or free of unauthorized chemicals).
G. It cannot be fed unless there is a risk of survival. If made, it will be made with organic honey from the apiary itself or with certified organic sugar.
H. Will record in a record all the operations carried out on the apiary.

Are you certified ? What advantages are there to being certified ?

 

[fian]

I am not certified organic and as of today I am not within the PGI "Mel de Galicia", I am a free player.
Being in any of them gives you:
A. Be within the official circuit of events and promotions, which should bring you extra income.
B. You should be able to obtain a plus in your sales price, the price range in free players of 6-10 €/Kg, while the IGP or organic ones start at 12€/Kg and 15€/Kg (prices at consumer for the usual 1Kg jar)

Are you certified ? What advantages are there to being certified ?

 

[dancingbee]

As we do I was just looking at supermarket honeys and came across this anomally.

https://groceries.aldi.co.uk/en-GB/p-organic-clear-honey-340g/4061462272073

Country of origin	United Kingdom
Legal name	Organic Clear Honey
Brand name	Organic

Firstly I think it is impossible to produce Organic Honey in the UK but certainly at that price!
So I assume it isn't actually "organic honey" but any old honey from a company called Organic and they are just using the products "Legal name" on the packaging.

any thoughts?

If you look at the back of the label you will see (if you have magnifying glass handy!) that it says 'a blend of honeys from more than one country', so it is definitely not from the UK, although it will have been packed by a UK packer who has Soil Association accreditation. The website however states Country of Origin - UK, so this is clearly misleading the consumer. (There are other 'honeys' similarly misrepresented on the Aldi website).
You can report this misrepresentation to Trading standards. You may also want to ask TS whether at this price, it is genuinely honey, and ask them to test it for authenticity. The Primary (TS) Authority for Aldi is: Denbighshire Co Council https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/...dards/forms/contact-us-trading-standards.aspx. You may want to drop a line to Aldi's CEO Giles Hurley on [email protected]

 

[dancingbee]

A quick search on the Soil Association website for honey producers with organic certification only seems to turn up "processors". My money is on it being packed in the UK, but not originating in the UK. It would be interesting to see the back label, assuming there is one.

If I could produce provably organic honey in the UK, absolutely no way would I be knocking it out to Aldi's suppliers for pennies.

James

The UK packer will have Soil Association accreditation

 

[dancingbee]

Yes. Report to TS this is ridiculous
I shop in Lidl so I will check them out too.

The Primary (TS) Authority for Aldi is: Denbighshire Co Council https://www.denbighshire.gov.uk/en/...dards/forms/contact-us-trading-standards.aspx. You may want to drop a line to Aldi's CEO Giles Hurley on [email protected]. You might also want to ask TS whether at this price, it is genuinely honey, and ask them to test it for authenticity.

 

[TheOrchard]

A quick search on the Soil Association website for honey producers with organic certification only seems to turn up "processors". My money is on it being packed in the UK, but not originating in the UK. It would be interesting to see the back label, assuming there is one.

If I could produce provably organic honey in the UK, absolutely no way would I be knocking it out to Aldi's suppliers for pennies.

James

Rowse also

 

[ericbeaumont]

The UK packer will have Soil Association accreditation

How does that work? A paper exchange between global organic bodies and the SA? How would the rectitude of such a multitude be proven?

 

[dancingbee]

How does that work? A paper exchange between global organic bodies and the SA? How would the rectitude of such a multitude be proven?

I have asked them for more details of how it works. Is it simply about processes, storage separation for non organic products etc? Do they check the supply chain in detail for each honey in a blend? To be called organic, 95% of the product has to be organic. It made me wonder whether the bio-engineered syrup that is commonly used to bulk up honey is also organic?!