[Reporter's Perspective] The mixed terminology of the honey market, a time for reorganization is needed

Published Dec 2, 2025

Tridge summary

[Beekeeping and Livestock Newspaper=Reporter Kim Shin-ji] The debate over sugar honey (feeder honey) in the domestic beekeeping industry is a longstanding issue, but it has resurfaced recently. The reasons are not simple. Looking at the legal definition, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has required a clear distinction between 'honey' and 'feeder honey' since 2017. Honey is defined as a product that bees naturally mature by collecting nectar and sap, while feeder honey is defined as a product made from sugar syrup that has been stored and matured. The regulation requires that feeder honey be labeled with the phrase "honey produced by feeding sugar" in a certain size to minimize consumer confusion. This system aims to address the realities of domestic beekeeping.

Original content

The debate over sugar honey (feeder honey) in the domestic beekeeping industry is a longstanding issue, but it has recently resurfaced. The reasons are not simple. Examining the legal definition, the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety has required a clear distinction between "honey" and "feeder honey" since 2017. Honey is defined as the product naturally matured by bees after collecting nectar and sap, while feeder honey is defined as a product extracted after storing and maturing sugar feed. The regulation requires that feeder honey be labeled with the phrase "honey produced by bees fed on sugar" in a certain size to minimize consumer confusion. This system partially reflects the reality of domestic beekeeping but has not been sufficient to resolve market confusion. The reason is clear. Feeder honey accounts for a certain percentage in beekeeping sites. According to industry estimates, about 30% of the 20,000 tons of production in 2015 was feeder honey. The problem is that this ...

Source: Aflnews