About
Forest honey (honeydew honey) is a natural sweetener produced by bees—primarily Apis dorsata and related species—from the sugary exudates of plant-sucking insects (aphids) on forest trees rather than from flower nectar. It is used as a sweetener, functional food ingredient, and traditional remedy owing to its high phenolic content, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, and antimicrobial properties.
Safety summary
Forest honey is broadly safe for the general adult population; no ADI has been established, as it is a whole natural food rather than a food additive. The principal microbiological hazard in honey is Clostridium botulinum spores, which are dangerous only to infants under 12 months. At typical dietary intakes its high natural sugar content warrants moderation for people managing blood glucose, but for healthy adults clinical trials report net beneficial effects on cardiovascular and metabolic markers.
Regulatory landscape
| Jurisdiction | Status | Note |
|---|---|---|
| EFSA (European Food Safety Authority) (European Union) | Approved | Honey is regulated as a natural food under EU General Food Law (Regulation EC No. 178/2002) and the EU Honey Directive. Honeydew/forest honey is an explicitly recognized category. EU regulations require honey to be free of chemical contaminants; mycotoxin surveys (EFSA 2024) found all honey samples compliant. No maximum daily intake is set.source |
| Food Standards Agency (FSA) / Food Standards Scotland (FSS) (United Kingdom) | Approved | FSA Honey Risk Profile (2024) identifies C. botulinum as the primary microbiological hazard; pesticide residue and persistent organic pollutant (POP) monitoring is ongoing. Honey is approved for general consumption; public health guidance advises against giving honey to infants under one year old.source |
| FSSAI (Food Safety and Standards Authority of India) (India) | Approved | Regulated under FSSAI Chapter 2.8 (Sweetening Agents including Honey). Standards require compliance with 18 quality parameters: sucrose ≤5%, moisture ≤20%, pollen count ≥25,000/g, diastase activity, HMF limits, C4 sugar limits, and isotope ratio tests (δ13C) to detect adulteration. Honeydew/forest honey permitted with sucrose up to 10%.source |
| FDA (Food and Drug Administration) (United States) | Approved | Honey is a conventional food regulated under sections 402 and 403 of the FD&C Act; it is not a food additive and carries no formal GRAS number. FDA guidance (2018) covers proper labeling and prohibits adulteration with added sugars or corn syrup. Any claims about floral source (e.g., 'forest honey') must be truthful and not misleading per 21 CFR 101. |
Who should approach with care
Research citations
- 1FSSAI. FSSAI Food Product Standards Chapter 2.8: Sweetening Agents including Honey (Version 1, September 2023), 2023. fssai.gov.in
- 2PubMed. A Comprehensive Review of the Effect of Honey on Human Health, 2023. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 3PubMed. Effectiveness of forest honey (Apis dorsata) as therapy for ovarian failure causing malnutrition, 2022. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 4FDA. Guidance for Industry: Proper Labeling of Honey and Honey Products, 2018. fda.gov
- 5other. Pesticide Residues in Honey from the Major Honey Producing Forest Belts in Ghana, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
- 6PubMed. Novel Insights into the Health Importance of Natural Honey, 2017. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
