Class Action Alleges Great Value Honey Products Falsely Advertised as Raw, Organic (2024)

Walmart faces a proposed class action alleging its Great Value Raw Honey and Organic Raw Honey are misleadingly advertised in that the products are processed in such a way that they cannot be considered “raw” or “organic.”

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Class Action Alleges Great Value Honey Products Falsely Advertised as Raw, Organic (1)Class Action Alleges Great Value Honey Products Falsely Advertised as Raw, Organic (2)

According to the 14-page case, scientific testing has shown that Walmart “excessively” overheats Great Value Raw Honey during processing to the point that the product is no longer “raw.” Testing has also revealed the presence of added foreign sugars in Great Value Organic Raw Honey, which means that the product is neither “raw” nor “organic,” the lawsuit claims.

Per the complaint, raw honey contains a variety of compounds—including sugars, minerals, proteins, enzymes, amino acids and organic acids—that provide consumers with valuable nutritional and medicinal benefits. However, when raw honey is heated to a temperature of more than 105 degrees, these enzymes begin to break down and are lost to the extent that the product is no longer raw, the suit contends.

The filing explains that scientific and industry authorities have designed a method to determine if honey has been overheated that requires a review of the substance’s 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) value. Although raw honey typically comes out of the beehive with an HMF value ranging from zero to nine milligrams per kilogram (mg/kg), a test of Great Value Raw Honey revealed an HMF value of 22 mg/kg—about 2.4 times higher than the highest HMF values typical of raw honey, the case claims.

“Upon information and belief, Walmart’s ‘Raw Honey’ is not raw because [the defendant] heats its ‘Raw Honey’ during processing above 105 degrees Fahrenheit which destroys the beneficial enzymes,” the lawsuit says.

The suit goes on to allege that Great Value Organic Raw Honey is neither raw nor organic because Walmart mixes it with additional sweeteners, which can be detected by reviewing the product’s mannose value. International reference standards state that mannose levels exceeding 0.02 grams per 100 grams of honey indicate that the product has been adulterated with foreign sugars, the case says. The complaint contends that Walmart’s Organic Raw Honey has a mannose concentration three times higher than this standard.

Because honey is a single-ingredient food, products that contain additional sweeteners are not organic or raw, the suit argues. In fact, theU.S. Food and Drug Administrationprohibits manufacturers from labeling a mixture of honey and another sweetener as “honey” since the term “does not properly identify the basic nature of the food,” the filing states.

The suit contends that Walmart’s alleged misrepresentations have tricked consumers into paying a premium for products it knew were inferior and lacked the benefits of raw honey.

The lawsuit looks to represent anyone who purchased Great Value honey labeled “Organic Raw Honey” or “Raw Honey” during theapplicable statute of limitationsperiod.

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Class Action Alleges Great Value Honey Products Falsely Advertised as Raw, Organic (3)

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Class Action Alleges Great Value Honey Products Falsely Advertised as Raw, Organic (2024)

FAQs

Is great value raw honey actually raw? ›

Plaintiff John Wertymer argues that testing employed by the scientific community and the honey industry shows that the honey is not raw because Walmart destroys the beneficial enzymes in its Great Value brand "Raw Honey" and "Organic Raw Honey" products by heating the honey to above 105 degrees Fahrenheit during ...

Is raw honey considered organic? ›

Organic honey is not the same as raw honey as they mean two completely different things. Honey can be considered organic, but can still be heated above 105° while it is being processed. Honey can be raw, but not be organic because the flowers the bees foraged from were not organic.

Is Walmart honey real honey? ›

Conventional honey lacks propolis and pollen, is stripped of nutrients through heating, contains additives like corn syrup or water, and has trace amounts of antibiotics and pesticides. You should avoid honey from big box stores like Costco or Walmart or chain pharmacies like Walgreens or CVS.

Can honey be labeled as organic? ›

As of 2021, honey cannot be certified organic by the USDA. Any honey Certified Organic honey sold in the United States is imported from other countries and certified organic by that country. The imported organic honey is not certified Organic by the United States.

How can you tell the difference between real and fake raw honey? ›

Drop a teaspoon of honey into a glass of water. Fake honey will immediately start to dissolve, whilst raw honey will drop to the bottom of the glass intact. Place a drop of room temperature or cooler honey on your finger, If the 'honey' spreads then it is fake honey.

How can you tell if honey is raw or unprocessed? ›

Crystallization: Raw honey naturally crystallizes over time, while processed honey remains a liquid form. Taste: Raw honey has a stronger, more distinctive flavor than processed honey, which may taste bland or artificial. Label: Look for a label that says "raw" or "unprocessed" honey.

How can you tell if honey is pure organic? ›

The test is performed by pouring a few drops of honey over the cloth or blotting paper. If the honey flows through the blot paper without wetting it, then it is considered as pure whereas if the honey gets absorbed or wets the blotting paper, then it is considered as impure honey.

What are the side effects of raw honey? ›

That said, if you experience side effects such as nausea, vomiting and diarrhea soon after eating raw honey, you should see your doctor immediately. Note that regular honey may also contain Clostridium botulinum spores. This means babies or children under one year old should also avoid it.

Which three honey brands are pure? ›

Which 3 honey brands passed the purity test? Ans: The honey brands that passed the NMR test include Markfed Sohna, Saffola and Nature's Nectar among most of the popular brands available in the Indian market.

Is Billy Bee honey real or fake? ›

Billy Bee is 100% pure and natural because no other ingredients are added. It contains no preservatives and no additives.

Which is better, raw or organic honey? ›

If you have the choice between raw honey vs regular honey, raw honey is a better choice for health, taste, bees and the environment. Organic Honey: Organic honey is produced from the nectar of organically grown plants, and without chemical miticides to treat the bees.

What does real organic honey look like? ›

Look & smell – Pure honey is always cloudy and not shiny in appearance and it has a hint of flowery smell, whereas an impure honey might be shiny, transparent and gives out the smell of sugary syrup.

Do I need to buy organic honey? ›

The rule of thumb is to select honey that is as pure and natural as possible. Organic honey is harvested from organically-grown flowers that are not contaminated by chemicals and pesticides. Because of its rigorous inspection and high-quality standards, organic honey is considered a superior choice.

Is store bought raw honey actually raw? ›

Raw honey comes straight from the hive to the bottle. The honey is never pasteurized or heated unlike store bought honey that does this for a number of reasons, mainly appearance and to increase the shelf life. Store-bought honey often has sugar added to it, raw honey does not.

How can you tell the difference between raw honey and regular honey? ›

Raw honey is naturally cloudier than regular honey due to honeycomb debris that is too small to be filtered out. Raw honey tends to have more variation in color and texture than regular honey. The color of raw honey may change depending on what flowers the bees pollinated.

Is 100% honey considered raw honey? ›

Pure honey only means that it has not been cut with corn syrup, sugar or another ingredient to dilute it. Usually, pure honey has been heated for pasteurization and filtered at least once if not twice, which is what separates it from raw honey.

Why is raw honey more expensive than processed honey? ›

The price per pound of raw honey depends on the higher production costs of honey, while adulteration of some processed honeys with cheaper sugar syrups drives the prices of processed honeys down. That processed “honey” on the store shelf may not be purely honey, regardless of what the label says.

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