Honey is one of the healthiest foods on the planet, and it is a product of the hard work of bees.

It offers various amazing health benefits and helps in the treatment of numerous illnesses and conditions.

Unfortunately, there are numerous fake honey types on the market, under misleading labels of raw, organic honey, and low price, which may trick you into buying fake honey.

Recent public research done by Food Safety News, over 76 percent of all honey sold in markets has been subjected to a process known as ultrafiltration.

Yet, this process removes impurities, such as wax traces, along with the pollen. Manufacturers claim that this process is important as it extends the shelf life of the product and prevents crystallization, but it also removes pollen, which provides numerous health benefits.

Also, researchers found that the aim of this process is in fact to hide the geographical origin of the honey. In China, manufacturers contaminated honey with illegal antibiotics and metals within the filtration process in order to import it and its origin became difficult to determine.

Therefore, you should avoid fake honey at any cost, as in the case of pollen contamination, it is of high importance to trace and analyze the origin of the product.

This is how to spot fake honey:

• Pure honey crystallizes over time. If your honey does not crystallize after some time, it is adulterated.
• Read the labels before purchasing honey, and if it contains high fructose corn syrup or commercial glucose, you should not buy it.
• Add a few drops of iodine to a glass of water, and add some honey. If the honey turns blue, it has been mixed with cornstarch.
• Add a few drops of vinegar to a glass of water, add some honey, and if it foams, it has been adulterated with plaster.
• Burn your honey with a match or phosphorus. In case it ignites, it is pure honey.
• Add a spoon of honey to a glass of water, and if it dissolves, it is adulterated or low-quality.

We also provide some additional tips when buying honey:

1. There are also honey products that have been mixed with glucose, as well as others that are rich in low-quality mead.
2. Honey sold at KFC and McDonald's does not contain pollen.
3. Even 77 percent of the honey which can be bought at Costco, Target, and Sam’s Club does not have pollen.
4. Do not buy honey sold at Walgreen’s and CVS Pharmacy, as these products do not contain pollen.
5. Honey Winnie the Pooh sold at Walmart also lacks pollen.

There are so many benefits to honey. These tips can be of great help when it comes to choosing the right honey type. Always try to buy pure, organic honey, as it is the only one that contains pollen and provides multiple health benefits.