Honey industry on high alert

Published: 11:13AM Tuesday March 25, 2008 Source: ONE News/Newstalk ZB

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Beekeepers are becoming increasingly concerned that their livelihoods and New Zealand's international reputation is at stake after yet more cases of suspected honey poisoning.

As Coromandel's toxic honey claims more victims, the entire honey industry has been put on high alert.

The honey sold with the brand name A Taste of Whangamata Pure Honey and trading under Projen Apiaries is at the centre of the suspected poisoning.

Dr Dell Hood, Waikato Medical Officer of Health, says they have 13 reports of possible illness in people who have been eating the suspected honey.

"They are at this stage all just considered possible cases and we're following them all up individually," says Hood.

Beekeepers nationwide are concerned that New Zealand's $57 million honey export industry could be at serious risk.

"Inevitably, this news will leak out and its compounded by the fact that one tourist was affected and that may well be reported back overseas," says Jim Edwards of the NZ Beekeeper's Association.

Edwards says although the rules around the collection and distribution of honey are very good, it's important that they are reviewed.

At the heart of the problem are New Zealand's native tutu bush and passion hoppers which make the honey toxic. The passion hoppers feed on the sap of the tutu plant. They then excrete a liquid onto the bark called honeydew, which contains the poisonous toxin tutin.

The honeydew attracts the bees, and they take it back to their hives.

Food Safety Authority spokeswoman Trish Pierce says a drop-off centre for people, who think they have the suspect honey has been set up at the Whangamata Medical Centre.

The Coromandel apiarist who produced the comb honey is not talking until tests on his honey are completed, but he could be prosecuted. 

"There are certainly penalties under both the Food Act and the Animal Products Act that can be applied but any decision on that will have to wait until the investigation's completed," says Jim Sim of the NZ Food Safety Authority.

Testing will be done on Wednesday but results will not be known for a few weeks. 

In the meantime, beekeepers in the Coromandel, East Coast and Marlborough, where tutin toxin is likely to be at this time of year, are reminded not to collect honey for human consumption.

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