The Rwanda Food and Drugs Authority (Rwanda FDA) has instructed all distributors, supermarkets, and retail shops to stop the distribution and sale of honey products under the brand name Honey Hive and return all the quantities to the suppliers within 10 working days. The decision is based on what Rwanda FDA termed adulteration of honey. Honey adulteration is the process of adding cheap sweeteners such as added sugar to pure honey, which diminishes its the quality or even safety. The circular digitally signed by Rwanda FDA Ag. Director-General, Dr. Charles Karangwa, on March 12, 2021, advised the public to stop buying and consuming the recalled Honey Hive. Rwanda FDA posted the circular on its Twitter handle on March 15, 2021. The description of the honey in question is HONEY HIVE, Nyungwe Forest, Natural Honey 100%. Rwanda FDA said that it also claims to have qualities including “best to use for diabetic, Grip, pregnant, Stomached, Appetite and Others.” Rwanda FDA said that the manufacturer of HONEY HIVE is requested to receive all the quantities returned by the clients and submit a detailed report (including the names, contacts and returned quantities) to the Rwanda FDA. The Rwanda FDA said that it took the action based on a reference made to the circular dated February 4, 2021 on the prohibition of honey adulteration, and previous inspection that the Authority conducted in response to customer complaints on the poor quality of Honey Hive available on the market. Further reference is made to the quality control laboratory results of Honey Hive that confirmed the adulteration of natural honey as well as the manufacturer who attested to the use and addition of sugar in the product. Practices involving added sugar or other substances into the honey that changes its natural properties was blamed for putting the local honey industry at risk. The regulator reminded all manufacturers that it is prohibited to produce and sell adulterated honey, stating that all the manufacturers and sellers of adulterated honey will be sanctioned. Why prohibiting honey adulteration Rwanda FDA reiterated that honey is a natural sweet substance originated from honey bees’ farming or keeping. Naturally, honey is composed of different sugars mainly glucose and fructose at a certain proportion, and other substances. Honey properties such as color, consistency, flavour and aroma, may vary depending on different geographical and botanical factors but are delivered from plant origin. To take honey to the market, beekeepers and other people involved in the business conduct several activities including harvesting or extraction, bottling and labelling of honey. However, some commit malpractice known as “Economically motivated adulteration,” which is defined as “fraudulent, intentional substitution or addition of a substance in a product for the purpose of increasing the apparent value of the product or reducing the cost of its production, that is, for economic gain.” Some consumers, mostly people with different health conditions, prefer using natural honey as a sweetener because of health benefits associated with its natural properties such as its glycemic index, glucose and fructose ratio, and other components. Therefore, Rwanda FDA said that to ensure honey quality and safety, honey should be sold with no any food ingredients or other substances added to it as stated in the standard for honey. In order to ensure the quality and safety of honey products on Rwandan market, Rwanda FDA recommends among other things, to ensure that honey is packaged without adding other food ingredients, including food additives, sugar, or other substances. It recommended compliance with the requirements for food labeling in accordance with the standard for honey (including name of the product, geographical or topographical source of honey, country of origin, the method used to remove honey from the comb, form, manufacturer’s name and address, evidence-based and genuine claims). There should also be a clear mention of the labelling of any added substance and its quantity in case of production of other types of honey products.
