Oct 16, 2025 | Reporter Jon Ungoed-Thomas has been investigating fake honey for The Observer for around 10 years. The runny, squeezy, golden liquid you see on supermarket shelves isn't what you think it is. We have been inundated in the UK with fraudulent honey - a blend of sometimes real bee-made honey mixed with sugary syrups. But due to lack of tests available and the funding for them, it's very hard for anyone to tell what's real honey and what's fake.
