I Guess Somebody Must Buy It

Otherwise it wouldn’t be on the shelf…

Imitation honey.  I’m not making this up. Imitation. Honey. What a perversion of something so simple: the rawest of sugars mocked by a blend of malitol syrup and acesulfame-K . I’ve been trying to figure out what niche purpose this product serves, and I really hope it’s not an outgrowth of the low-carb craze.

My only other hypothesis is that some people with diabetes prefer it.  I’m admittedly not an expert on the disease nor the nutritional constraints that it imposes on people, but I had been under the impression that 1) individuals with diabetes may safely consume moderate amounts of honey and 2) imitation sugars are not significantly safer than natural sugars for persons with this disease.

If anyone can shed some light on this product for me and what market niche it fills, I would be greatly appreciative.  As it stands now, I’m just boggled.

11 Responses to “I Guess Somebody Must Buy It”

  1. Elayne Riggs Says:

    What’s the price? If it’s cheaper than real honey, there’s your answer, like a lot of fake foods it’s probably being sold to people who can’t afford the good stuff.

  2. cb Says:

    It’s possible that people purchase it for their infants and toddlers.

    Because of the lack of acid in infant’s digestive tracts, they cannot break down and kill potential botulism spores that may lay dormant in honey.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Honey#Precautions

  3. Lauren Says:

    I hope, I hope, I hope that no one actually prefers fake honey. I’ve tried the diabetic versions of other natural things like maple syrup, and I’d rather go without. I’d rather go without cheese than use non-fat cheese and I’d rather go without mayo than use Miracle Whip, though, so I probably don’t conform to the usual American tolerance for foods made out of chemicals instead of, well, food.

  4. Zil Says:

    Makes about as much sense as fake maple syrup (aka “pancake syrup”). I’ve seen scads of fake-honey and honey-blends in Chinese grocery stores, FWIW.

  5. courtney Says:

    My thought were along the lines of cb’s, but I can’t imagine why children can’t just go without honey, or I guess I should say “honey”.

  6. cb Says:

    Don’t get me wrong, Courtney. I’m not advocating “honey” (nice, by the way). I think a kid can wait a year before he/she learns the joys of honey. My little girl’s going to have to.

  7. courtney Says:

    Oh no worries, I didn’t think that you were, but if our thinking is right then SOMEONE must be thinking that.

  8. Kelly Says:

    im assuming this would be for vegetarian/vegan purposes. im pretty sure that honey counts as an animal product.

  9. peg Says:

    but most vegan’s turn to agave necter as a honey substitute. Which is good and natural and a different product in it’s own right.

  10. jwsharrard Says:

    I still don’t understand the vegan aversion to honey, an animal-produced product, the collection of which has no adverse effect on the hive.

  11. John Howell (beekeeper) Says:

    Your Lord revealed to the bees: “Build dwellings in the mountains and the trees, and also in the structures which men erect. Then eat from every kind of fruit and travel the paths of your Lord, which have been made easy for you to follow.” From inside them comes a drink of varying colours, containing healing for mankind. There is certainly a Sign in that for people who reflect. (Qur’an, 16:69)

    The Prophet Muhammad, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (peace be upon him), has also told us of the healing found within honey for a variety of medical problems, including stomach ailments. One hadeeth, reported by Bukhari, states that a man came to the Prophet , sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (peace be upon him), because his brother had a stomach disorder. The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam said “Let him drink honey.” The man returned a second time and again the Prophet , sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (peace be upon him), responded again, “Let him drink honey.” The man returned again, and said “I have done that.” The Prophet sallallahu alayhi wa sallam then responded, “Allah has said the truth, but your brother’s stomach has told a lie. Let him drink honey.” He drank it and was cured.

    Tirmizi, Ibn Majah and Baihaqi also reported that the Prophet, sallallahu alayhi wa sallam (peace be upon him), said, “Make use of the two remedies: honey and the Qur’an.”

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