Traces of Antibiotics, Lead Found in Indian Honey

Honey Industry Stung by Traces of Antibiotics, Lead
Sukhdeep Kaur, The Indian Express, 6/16/2008

India’s flourishing honey industry, based primarily in Punjab, has pressed the panic button after over 90 per cent of export samples were found contaminated with residues of antibiotics and lead...

While the source of antibiotic contamination is the indiscriminate use of medicines by beekeepers due to a bacterial disease caused to the bees by a small mite, the lead traces are from beekeepers reusing ghee and oil tins for storage and transportation. “Honey is acidic and reacts with the tin leading to high lead traces,” says Prof L R Verma, who heads the IBA…