How to Tell If You're Buying Real Honey

Look for a clear statement of identity such as "honey" on the front label. Under FDA honey labeling guidance, a product that contains honey plus another sweetener should be described as a blend, not just honey. If the front label uses loose words like "honey flavored" or "honey syrup," slow down and read the rest of the package.

Turn the jar around and look for words such as corn syrup, sugar, rice syrup, cane syrup, or flavoring. The FDA says products represented as honey but containing undeclared sweeteners may be adulterated or misbranded, and its FY25 honey testing looked for undeclared added sweeteners in domestic and imported samples. If you want only honey, choose a jar where the labeling does not point to a blend.

Do not rely on the water test, thumb test, paper test, or flame test to prove a jar is real honey. Honey naturally varies by floral source, temperature, age, and processing, and sophisticated adulteration is a laboratory problem, not a kitchen trick. The FDA describes honey fraud as economically motivated adulteration, which regulators monitor with inspections, sampling, and analytical testing.

Choose jars that name the packer, producer, country or region of origin, and a lot or batch code. Specific floral names such as clover, orange blossom, or wildflower should be truthful and supported by the producer, according to FDA labeling guidance. Clear sourcing does not guarantee purity by itself, but it makes the seller easier to question and the product easier to trace.

Do not confuse a quality claim with proof that no sweetener was added. USDA extracted honey grades score quality factors, while authenticity depends on the product being what the label says it is. If a jar uses the USDA organic seal, the USDA organic program requires certification and oversight, but you should still read the product name and ingredients.

Real honey can be light or dark, thin or thick, mild or strong, depending on the nectar source and handling. Crystallization is also normal, and Penn State Extension notes that honey should not be refrigerated because cool temperatures can promote crystallization. A perfectly clear, uniform jar is not automatically fake, and a cloudy or crystallized jar is not automatically bad.

Keep honey tightly covered at room temperature in a dry place. Penn State Extension says honey keeps best covered tightly and should not be refrigerated; if it crystallizes, warm the open jar in hot water. Discard honey that foams, smells alcoholic, or seems fermented.

Even real honey is not safe for infants. The CDC warns not to give honey to children younger than 12 months because it may cause infant botulism. This includes honey mixed into food, water, formula, or put on a pacifier.