Could someone tell me how honey is certified as organic?
I do agree with kland point and would add to it the fact that all the bees strains in all the world are heavily genetically diseased. Interestingly for Canadians, the Newfoundland bees has been preserved from this and are considered the only CLEAN bees in the world.
As far as my understanding about being certified organic; it all depends on the by-laws of the organizations that certifies you. Many are extremely slack almost allowing anyone despite of their unsound agrcultural practices to use the association organic stamp on their products as long they pay the org. association fees.
In regards to honey, anyone who considered going into raising bees know that all bees are heavily infested with many diseases that is control by regularly spraying the colony with anti-biotics, antisectiside to control the mites, and whatever else. Even with strick organic practices you cannot get away from these diseases. The only way is to buy clean bees from Newfoundland that because of their unique geographical isolation their bees did not suffer the diseases other nations has.
It just so happened that thru my work with an local artisan coop- store that I occasionally help in their retail shop...I met on three occasions the NFLD economist consultant and project manager who works for the bee industry in NFLD and is also a professor at their university. Anyway from asking multiple questions what I got from her is there are a few beekeepers that do sell real organic honey; but most are mainly interested in selling queen bees. That's were the focus's of their effort will be stear towards.
So yes i agree with kland that real organic honey is rare and hard to find.
Anyway in terms of what is a better sugar even tho it would be organic....I don't think honey fairs well. I think Maple syrup fairs much better if you can find some that is lead free. I make my own Maple syrup that is lead free because I purchase an evaporator that the solder used is lead free. In 1994 they past a law to prohibit any further fabrication of Maple syrup equipment using solder with lead. However theirs no law that prohibits producers to use their old equipment with lead. So most Maple syrup on the market have lead content beyond the allowable max.
Then still using Maple syrup free from lead is still not the most ideal sugar and it should be used very sparingly on special occasions for guest or family.
I used to use brown rice syrup as a sweetner in my cooking until I found out that it is high in arsenic. Especially if you have a gluten free diet where your grain consumption is mainly rice and rice flour, then your arsenic level gets higher.
The best alternative sugar I have found is coconut sugar, raisins and dates.
