Jam sugar

[Levitt53]

I’ve just made up some syrup using some jam sugar I inherited. I’m now thinking is it ok to use for syrup. It has added pectin for setting jams. Do you think this could be ok to use. It’s cooling at the moment but I could make something else.

 

[enrico]

I wouldn't but only because i dont know the answer!

 

[Angry_Mob]

Pectin is toxic to bees, throw it out.

 

[For want of a better word]

I’ve just made up some syrup using some jam sugar I inherited. I’m now thinking is it ok to use for syrup. It has added pectin for setting jams. Do you think this could be ok to use. It’s cooling at the moment but I could make something else.

Extra sugary mead?

 

[enrico]

Pectin is toxic to bees, throw it out.

That does seem odd as it is plant based! May I ask how you know it is toxic?
I can't find any references
E

 

[Erichalfbee]

That does seem odd as it is plant based! May I ask how you know it is toxic?
I can't find any references
E

Mentioned here
https://beesource.com/resources/usda/considerations-in-selecting-sugars-for-feeding-to-honey-bees/

If you google pectin toxicity bees there are quite a few hits

 

[Murox]

Mentioned here
https://beesource.com/resources/usda/considerations-in-selecting-sugars-for-feeding-to-honey-bees/

If you google pectin toxicity bees there are quite a few hits

Thats a useful article. A bit worrying in places regarding invert and that its use is based only on an assumption!

 

[Beefriendly]

Interstign link Erica.
I found the "Honey, which is mostly fructose and glucose, did not sustain caged worker bees as long as did sucrose syrup (Barker and Lehner, 1973). Nevertheless, many beekeepers consider honey to be an ideal food for bees in spite of the risks of spreading disease with it."
a quite interesting observation. Of course Finman will tell us he has known this for years

 

[Erichalfbee]

Interstign link Erica.
I found the "Honey, which is mostly fructose and glucose, did not sustain caged worker bees as long as did sucrose syrup (Barker and Lehner, 1973). Nevertheless, many beekeepers consider honey to be an ideal food for bees in spite of the risks of spreading disease with it."
a quite interesting observation. Of course Finman will tell us he has known this for years

I’ve just noticed the date of the article. 1977.
Hmm. How much of it has been superseded by more modern knowledge, I wonder?
How is invert sugar inverted commercially these days?

 

[Beefriendly]

I’ve just noticed the date of the article. 1977.

If it was toxic in 1977 it is probably still toxic...

 

[Erichalfbee]

If it was toxic in 1977 it is probably still toxic...

You reckon?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

How is invert sugar inverted commercially these days?

Using a protein enzyme - not hydrolization

 

[Murox]

Using a protein enzyme - not hydrolization

can you point us to recent research or evidence that could be considered empirical ?

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Why research? evidence - it's stated by the companies that produce it that they use enzymatic inversion.

http://www.beefeed.co.uk/invertbeesyrup.html

 

[Murox]

Why research? evidence - it's stated by the companies that produce it that they use enzymatic inversion.

http://www.beefeed.co.uk/invertbeesyrup.html

Yes a wrong question really - I was thinking more about how do we really know that enzymatic is less/not harmful vs hydrolisation.

 

[Madge]

...”...Nevertheless, many beekeepers consider honey to be an ideal food for bees in spite of the risks of spreading disease with it."

Above: BF’’’’s quote from link.

You only spread disease if you feed bees honey from other colonies - not if you leave them their own honey.

 

[Madge]

(Sorry - I know there’s an apostrophe missing above, but Tapatalk doesn’t accept my attempts to correct it. )

 

[Madge]

It’s done it again - removed apostrophes!

 

[user 6228]

1. Guler A, Ekinci D, Biyik S, Garipoglu A V, Onder H, Kocaokutgen H. 2018 Effects of Feeding Honey Bees (Hymenoptera: Apidae) With Industrial Sugars Produced by Plants Using Different Photosynthetic Cycles (Carbon C3 and C4) on the Colony Wintering Ability, Lifespan, and Forage Behavior. J. Econ. Entomol. 111, 2003–2010. (doi:10.1093/jee/toy189)

From the abstract
" Sucrose syrup had a positive effect on wintering ability, wax production, and hive weight. While Sucrose had a positive effect (3–4%) on wintering ability, the 100 liters/colony sugar syrups of all other sugars had negative effects (6–15%). Sugars containing high levels of monosaccharide were not used effectively
by honey bee colonies, whereas the sugars containing fructose and glucose at rates of 40 and 30% (Bee feed and Fructose-55), were utilized effectively"

"In conclusion, except Glucose, other industrial sugars can be used for promoting colonies at
the beginning of the season (in spring). Industrial sugars except sucrose should not be used in order to meet
carbohydrate needs of the colonies in winter."