AGXStarseed
Well-Known Member
(Not written by me. The story was originally published in 2012 and this thread is an amalgamation of two articles, but I decided to share it anyway as I found it rather unique).
Beekeepers in the France have seen their honey turned into different colours after bees ate residue from a nearby M&M factory.
The problem has been in evidence since August, but after some honey-based detective work, it was discovered that a biogas plant 2.5 miles away was the main offender.
It has been processing waste from a nearby Mars plant which produces the small sweets’ red, blue, green, yellow and brown shells.
However, while the wacky shades of honey may raise a smile or two among the public, it presents a real problem for the dozen or so affected beekeepers in Alsace.
According to Alain Frieh, president of the apiculturists’ union, they are already dealing with high bee mortality rates and dwindling honey supplies after a tough winter.
He said while it tastes like honey, the product wouldn’t be able to go on sale.
‘For me, it’s not honey. It’s not sellable,’ he said.
France is one of the largest producers of honey in Europe, producing around 18,330 tonnes annually.
According to the Alsace chamber of agriculture, there are around 2,400 beekeepers in the region tending to around 35,000 colonies which produce approximately 1,000 tonnes of honey a year.
Here's the pictures of the colour-changed honey:
SOURCE ARTICLES:
1. http://metro.co.uk/2012/10/05/mm-chocolate-eating-bees-produce-blue-honey-in-france-593045/
2. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/mms-are-ruining-nature?utm_term=.mhNLVw3mW#.wc7dGNgRY
Beekeepers in the France have seen their honey turned into different colours after bees ate residue from a nearby M&M factory.
The problem has been in evidence since August, but after some honey-based detective work, it was discovered that a biogas plant 2.5 miles away was the main offender.
It has been processing waste from a nearby Mars plant which produces the small sweets’ red, blue, green, yellow and brown shells.
However, while the wacky shades of honey may raise a smile or two among the public, it presents a real problem for the dozen or so affected beekeepers in Alsace.
According to Alain Frieh, president of the apiculturists’ union, they are already dealing with high bee mortality rates and dwindling honey supplies after a tough winter.
He said while it tastes like honey, the product wouldn’t be able to go on sale.
‘For me, it’s not honey. It’s not sellable,’ he said.
France is one of the largest producers of honey in Europe, producing around 18,330 tonnes annually.
According to the Alsace chamber of agriculture, there are around 2,400 beekeepers in the region tending to around 35,000 colonies which produce approximately 1,000 tonnes of honey a year.
Here's the pictures of the colour-changed honey:
SOURCE ARTICLES:
1. http://metro.co.uk/2012/10/05/mm-chocolate-eating-bees-produce-blue-honey-in-france-593045/
2. https://www.buzzfeed.com/jtes/mms-are-ruining-nature?utm_term=.mhNLVw3mW#.wc7dGNgRY
