Poll: Should it be legal to use the word "Raw" on labels to describe unheated, non-pressure filtered honey

[Finman]

Of course - and the sugars in the nectar come from CO2 in the atmosphere - just add water + photons, so raw must mean CO2. But these heavy elements were forged by nuclear fusion in the centre of stars, so obviously raw must mean hydrogen.

Halleluja!!!

Reprwoc. What you mean is raw material. Not raw.
Somebody invented raw, but such honey does not exist.

 

[Boston Bees]

Well, anyway, I think that the conclusion of the poll is clearly that there's a 50/50 split between forum members on whether "raw" is a term that should be applied to honey when marketing it (or at any other time). Which is quite interesting, though perhaps not that surprising.

I think the complete lack of consensus suggests that a change in the law isn't required though

 

[Sanntos]

.... so obviously raw must mean hydrogen.

Only one could argue "raw" = Big Bang

 

[Finman]

Hlzöuxöuxäu

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Hlzöuxöuxäu

I tried that once - had indigestion for days afterwards
Or was that Taramasalata?

 

[Finman]

I tried that once - had indigestion for days afterwards
Or was that Taramasalata?

It means raw at Sami language. Raw reindeer.
Not heated or sieved.

 

[enrico]

Well, anyway, I think that the conclusion of the poll is clearly that there's a 50/50 split between forum members on whether "raw" is a term that should be applied to honey when marketing it (or at any other time). Which is quite interesting, though perhaps not that surprising.

I think the complete lack of consensus suggests that a change in the law isn't required though

Or 50% that it is required!!!!

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Or 50% who don't need a ridiculous handle to sell all their honey

 

[pargyle]

Well, anyway, I think that the conclusion of the poll is clearly that there's a 50/50 split between forum members on whether "raw" is a term that should be applied to honey when marketing it (or at any other time). Which is quite interesting, though perhaps not that surprising.

I think the complete lack of consensus suggests that a change in the law isn't required though

Judging by the more recent posts there could be a late flurry of those in favour of allowing raw to become a protected term for honey...

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Judging by the more recent posts there could be a late flurry of those in favour of allowing raw to become a protected term for honey...

Or banning the term altogether

 

[pargyle]

It's too late to ban it .. the cats already out of the bag ... better the devil you know than some new arbitrary term... just define it in terms of honey and be done with it. TS will never enforce a ban anyway ... so better follow Bob Dylan... the times they are a'changin !

 

[Murox]

Judging by the more recent posts there could be a late flurry of those in favour of allowing raw to become a protected term for honey...

Or banning the term altogether

What about the 32% who didn't vote - personally I vote for the existing law to either be applied properly or scrapped. Since Trading Standards clearly won't even try to enforce the rules unless you happen to be a smaller player you may as well just use the word RAW with impunity if you want to; and then complain as often as you can about others.Yes I do mean what I have written as it makes a mockery of the rules, which is after all just maintaining the status quo.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

some new arbitrary term.

How's about

'Twee honey'​

Or, radical thought...

HONEY!​

 

[Anduril]

Looking at the petitions page, it is no longer available, if TS looked at the microscopic poll, they would say 'WOW'!
How many beekeepers are there in the UK?
How many eligible voters on this forum and a total of 80 so far who voted.
I know what their decision will be, judging by the comments on the 2 threads.
But if it came to fruition, i can envisage a monster being created.

 

[Anduril]

The petition has now been allowed.

 

[bobba]

I take issue with the term "pressure filtered".

I think is is safe to assume we all filter our honey to some extent. But I think if the aperture on the filter is too small and it starts removing pollen, than is should no longer be called raw.

So I dont think it matters if the honey is preserised or pumped through a filter, but rather the aperture on the filter that's important.

I personally take the view that if honey chrysalises and you have to heat to reliquary, than that's not raw - I know people will disagree with me. I understand the 40 degrees is ok theory. But to me raw honey is honey straight from the hive that has been cold extracted, corse filtered and never been heat treated.

I am not saying anyone is wrong and I am right, I am just stating my perception of what raw honey is and appreciate my opinion may be different to that of others.

So I agree we should be able to use the word raw, but I also think it needs to be clearly defined (preferably by me).

Regarding people that ask for raw honey, I usually end up chatting to them about honey production and the fact we cannot put raw on our jars. So its been a good conversation starter.

People that ask for raw honey, just want good honey at the end of the day. And are usually a bit more clued up about the difference between good honey and supermarket syrup.

So I think allowing and policing the use of the word raw on honey would help consumers.

I also think it could help devalue the crap honey as well as distinguish our excellent honey.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

Regarding people that ask for raw honey, I usually end up chatting to them about honey production and the fact we cannot put raw on our jars.

The very few that have asked me the same question - I've just told them it's a load of pretentious b*ll*cks and that's the reason it can't be put on the jar They are now regular customers and phone in orders for the whole street.

 

[HarryO]

Do we as hobby beekeepers filter our honey or strain it? I suggest straining is the actual process carried out as we only remove solid objects visible to the naked eye like wax fragments that have got into the honey during its extraction. Filtering is a process where much smaller particles are removed eg pollen grains. The 2015 honey regs forbid the deliberate removal of pollen from honey as it is a natural constituent.

People often claim they strain the honey to remove bees legs but I have yet to find a bees leg in my straining cloth. I did however find a varroa mite in a jar of honey on the show bench a few years ago not forgetting regularly finding eye lashes, human and mammal hairs , fibres of wool and other textiles, flies from a range of species in honey I have judged. I often suggest that a ****y prize card should be given to the exhibitor whose honey contains the largest object.

I didn't know bees had eyelashes ! But I will be on the lookout for them now, when jarring my honey.
Thank you for the tip.

 

[jenkinsbrynmair]

I didn't know bees had eyelashes ! But I will be on the lookout for them now, when jarring my honey.
Thank you for the tip.

I'd be more concerned about finding any 'watchspring' hairs

 

[HarryO]

How come butchers don't specify "raw meat" but often say "cooked meat".
Maybe the answer is that supermarkets etc. should have to specify "cooked honey" to distinguish it from our so called "raw honey"!!!