[FindlayBee]

Hello,

Found a store in Ohio selling "Imitation Honey" next to what is marked "Pure Honey". The "Imitation Honey" is being sold in a plastic bottle with a embossed honey bee in the plastic. The bottle looks like a skep and there is a flower on the front label. My question is, is this store in violation of the following Ohio law?
3715.38 Prohibitions regarding honey.

No person shall sell, offer, or expose for sale any product that is:
(A) In the semblance of honey and labeled, advertised, or otherwise represented to be honey if it is not honey;


(B) In the semblance of honey and contains a label that applies the word “imitation” to the product, regardless of whether it contains any honey;


(C) In the semblance of honey and is a blend of honey and other ingredients that contains a label with the word “honey,” or any picture, drawing, or other representation implying honey, when such word, picture, drawing, or representation is more prominently displayed than the word “blend” or other word clearly implying the existence of other ingredients.
Effective Date: 10-31-1975

 

[alpha6]

Survey saysssss.....YES!

 

[FindlayBee]

Ok, my container description is a bit off. My fault for trying to remember something I looked at around 3:00AM. Anyway, the contents of the container is still correct.

This is a really bad photo of the product. However, I did buy a bottle of the product for records and proof of sale. After my daughter goes to bed, I will post more information.

Took this really fast last night with my cell phone. Looks like some type of diabetic imitation honey.

 

[tonyp]

We have the same thing down here too. The word honey is twice as large as the word imitation. How would you get something like this off the shelves?

 

[tonyp]

The one I seen down here had a different label I think.

 

[FindlayBee]

I have already sent a message to the Ohio Department of Agriculture. Will see what I get from them.

 

[Eaglerock]

Hello,

Found a store in Ohio selling "Imitation Honey" next to what is marked "Pure Honey". My question is, is this store in violation of the following Ohio law?

It isn't claiming to be honey, therefore it doen't fall under those guidelines. But that would be depending on what "B" is meaning.

 

[11x]

i belive i seen that at walmart down here in logan ohio

 

[11x]

must just be a local thing, jere is theweb results http://www.walmart.com/search/searc..._0&tc=0&tab_value=643_All&ref=+418721.g418721

 

[beekeeper_sd]

Not just a local thing. I found it in WALMART in TX and South Dakota. Thanks WalMart!!!!

 

[FindlayBee]

From Webster.com

"Main Entry: sem·blance
Pronunciation: \ˈsem-blən(t)s\
Function: noun
Etymology: Middle English, from Anglo-French, from sembler to be like, seem — more at resemble
Date: 14th century
1 a : outward and often specious appearance or show : form <wrapped in a semblance of composure — Harry Hervey> b : modicum <has been struggling to get some semblance of justice for his people — Bayard Rustin>
2 : aspect, countenance
3 a : a phantasmal form : apparition b : image, likeness
4 : actual or apparent resemblance <her story bears some semblance to the truth>"


3715.38 Prohibitions regarding honey.

No person shall sell, offer, or expose for sale any product that is:
[sic]

(B) In the semblance of honey and contains a label that applies the word “imitation” to the product, regardless of whether it contains any honey;

[sic]

We have a product that looks like honey but is not and the label has applied to it "imitation" and the word "honey". It comes in a container that one would commonly find pure honey, shows a bee like image in the embossed plastic, and has a flower in full bloom on the label.

From what I get from this law is "You cannot sell, offer, or expose for sale "imitation honey". Since it contains the word "honey" in the label and the word "imitation" it is in violation.

 

[FindlayBee]

I will see if I can get a photo of the shelf layout next time I am in Walmart. I know I cannot get away with a regular digital camera, but I can use my horrid cell phone camera.

 

[FindlayBee]

Please note, I could be reading this all wrong and it is ok.

I know some States allow this in their laws. Such as West Virginia:

"§19-2D-2. Labeling.
(a) No person shall manufacture, package, label, sell, keep for sale, expose or offer for sale, any article or product represented to be honey or to contain honey unless the product ingredient is honey, as defined in this article.

(b) No person shall sell, expose or offer for sale any product, compound or mixture of sugars labeled as or for honey, with or without honey as a constituent ingredient, unless the product, compound or mixture of sugars is labeled "imitation honey" with the word "imitation" appearing in letters equal in size to the letters used to spell "honey.""

However, Texas:

"§ 131.083. SALE OF IMITATION HONEY. A person may not
label, sell, or keep, expose, or offer for sale a product that
resembles honey and is identified on its label as "imitation
honey."

Added by Acts 1983, 68th Leg., p. 1884, ch. 350, § 1, eff. Sept.
1, 1983."

 

[wolfpenfarm]

I wonder what its ingredients are. I know i have tried aguave nectar which imo is nothing but honey since it is the nectar from that aguave plant.
I'm diabetic so i have to watch my sugar intake. I know that honey doesn't send my sugars as high as syrup or sugar but it does raise it if i am not careful in how much i use.
THe Aguave nectar raised my BS high as heck for some reason i have no idea why.
I have decided to stick with honey as a substitute for refined sugars, and i also use stevia as a sweetener. I can mix the stevia and honey both which will help control my BS. The honey can add a better flavor to the stevia.

 

[FindlayBee]

Maltitol syrup, natural and artificial flavor, acesulfame k, malic acid.

 

[The Honey Householder]

Looks to me Honey Tree sells more then just honey.:doh:
I say it looks like the Meijer display.

 

[Sprig]

This is not local! I found the same stuff in a Meijers store in Ludington MI last weekend!

 

[FindlayBee]

This came from Walmart.

This product is probably great for someone who cannot consume real pure honey. However, when I was doing research on beekeeping before I jumped in and ordered bees, I came across the Ohio law. I was shocked to see this stuff last night on the shelf at Walmart. It is made in the USA in MI, but I cannot for the life of me figure out how it gets onto the shelf with this law in place.

"Ohio prohibits the sale of any product labeled, advertised, or otherwise represented to be honey if it is not honey; any product that looks like honey labeled with the word “imitation” whether or not it contains any honey; and any product that is a blend of honey and other ingredients that contains a label with the word “honey,” or any picture, drawing, or other representation implying honey, when such word, picture, drawing, or representation is more prominently displayed than the word “blend” or other word clearly implying the existence of other ingredients. When enforced, this law protects local honey producers from imitation products that hurt sales of pure honey and ensures that consumers who want to consume only pure honey or avoid honey entirely can do so. In Ohio, licensed apiaries sold 1.4 million pounds of honey in 2002.10"

The above is from: http://www.uspirg.org/html/foodsafety/Ohio.pdf

 

[Beeslave]

I would say it is in violation of the law. Besides the bottle, the word-imitation-blends with the background color. They also use HoneyTree's with the letters larger than the word imitation.

 

[magnet-man]

Well doesn't flavored honey sticks fall into the prohibited category too?