Apis Honey says it 'does not agree' with CSE's report on adulteration in honey

Homegrown honey maker Apis Honey on Thursday said it “does not agree” with research and advocacy organisation Centre for Science and Environment (CSE)’s report on adulteration in its products, a day after the latter said ten leading Indian brands of honey are adulterated with sugar syrup. Soon after the report was released on Wednesday, Dabur, Patanjali and Emami too had outright disagreed with the findings of the report.
“We do not agree with this CSE report; we have been in the honey business for many decades and have always stood for purity,” a spokesperson representing Apis Honey said.

“We follow all government rules and procedures. Apis Honey packed at the state-of-the-art facility adheres to all necessary norms laid by FSSAI and the government, for domestic supply or export,” the Apis spokesperson added.

Sales of honey from Dabur, Emami, Patanjali and Apis have surged in high double digit growth over the last six months, following the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic.

CSE had alleged that ten leading Indian brands of honey including Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya are adulterated with sugar syrup, adding that the brands failed a Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy (NMR) test which the Indian government had made mandatory for exports starting August 1, 2020. The CSE report named only three out of the 13 brands – Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar — as those which have passed the lab tests.

Dabur had said the report “seems motivated and aimed at maligning its brand”. The consumer goods company has released ads today aimed at addressing the purity of its honey. Patanjali Ayurved managing director Acharya Balkrishan said the company “makes 100% natural honey which has tested pure on more than 100 standards laid down by FSSAI.”