Recent laboratory tests have found lead residues in some honey products. Exposure to lead is known to have adverse effects on human health, especially on the nervous system. Children are particularly vulnerable.

The primary source of lead contamination in honey is lead-bearing equipment. Honey is an acidic product and can react with surfaces containing lead, allowing lead to be absorbed by the honey. Lead-bearing equipment includes, but is not restricted to:

• galvanized equipment (such as extractors and tanks);
• soldered equipment (such as stainless steel extractors, tanks, packing units or any other equipment with lead containing soldered seams);
• some bronze and brass fittings; and
• equipment made of terneplate (a metal alloy found in some older equipment).

What You Can Do to Avoid Lead Contamination Inspect and Maintain Your Equipment:

• New and used equipment must be made with food-grade materials. These include stainless steel, food grade plastic, and fibreglass lined steel with welded or lead-free soldered seams. Repairs to any equipment must also be made with food-grade materials. Solder containing lead should not be used.
• Do not use older equipment to store, or dispense honey unless you have verified that it is lead free. Increased exposure or residency time will increase the risk of lead contamination of the honey.
• Do not leave honey in the bottom of the extractor between uses. If the extractor has a lead soldered seam, honey left in the bottom is exposed to lead and could contaminate your next lot.
• Lead test kits are available and should be used to identify possible lead sources in your equipment. Kits may be purchased from many equipment suppliers.

Tell Your Neighbours:

Share this notice with your neighbours. A contamination issue with any producer could impact your business.

Additional Information:

Information on the effects of lead on human health can be found on the Health Canada website at: www.hc-sc.gc.ca/iyh-vsv/environ/lead-plomb_e.html.

If using food grade coatings, correct surface preparation and application is very important. If coatings (such as paint) are not applied correctly, they can flake off and could contaminate the honey.

A database of accepted construction, packaging and coating materials can be found on the Canadian Food Inspection Agencies website at www.inspection.gc.ca/english/fssa/reference/refere.shtml

For more information on lead contamination in honey, please contact:

John Henderson
Risk Management Specialist
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
95 Dundas St., RR 3 Brighton, Ontario K0K 1H0
Tel: (613) 475-5175
Fax: (613) 475-3835
john.henderson@ontario.ca