In the import alert dated 01/18/2022, US FDA published the Red List of firms where divisions may detain, without physical examination, the specified products, namely honey from the firms. In order to secure release of an individual shipment subject to detention without physical examination under this import alert, the owner, consignee and/or other responsible party to the shipment should provide results of a third-party laboratory analysis, which verifies the product does not contain added cane or corn sugar according to AOAC Official Method 991.41.
The alert lists firms from 15 countries and the most number of firms are from Vietnam and Yemen (4 each). The Indian firm INDOCAN HONEY PVT. LTD is the only Indian company listed in the alert.
Adulteration in honey has been a hot topic of discussion since CSE published its findings last year. The counter the backlash Dabur and others had formed the India Honey Alliance. The issue continues to plague the industry and the addition of another producer to the red list only puts the industry on the back foot.
To read the complete Red Alert issued by US-FDA, you can read the notification on their website.
