Is Honey Ultra Processed?
Not Typically Ultra-Processed
Raw, unfiltered honey is Level 1 — one of the least processed foods available. It is extracted from the comb and bottled with no additives. Commercial blended honey that has been ultra-filtered and heated may be Level 2.
Key Findings
- •Raw local honey is Level 1 — essentially unprocessed food
- •Crystallization is natural and does not indicate spoilage or processing
- •Some imported honey is adulterated with high fructose corn syrup — buy from known sources
Why Is Honey Level 1?
Bees produce honey through a natural enzymatic process (invertase converts nectar sucrose into glucose and fructose). Human processing of honey ranges from none (raw comb honey) to extraction and straining (removing wax particles), to ultra-filtration (removing pollen — which also removes traceability) and heating (for easier bottling and to prevent crystallization). Some imported honey has been adulterated with corn syrup.
Honey Processing Level Distribution
How 987 honey products break down by processing level:
Average ingredient count: 16.0 · Average nutrition score: 4.8/10
Honey Brand Comparison
Comparing the least to most processed honey products in our database:
| Product | Brand | Level | Score | Ingredients |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.s. Grade a Honey | Clover Valley | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Honey | Nice! | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Orange Blossom Honey, Orange Blossom | Stater Bros. | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| 100% Pure Blueberry Honey, Blueberry | Big Y | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Wildflower Honey, Wildflower | Stater Bros. | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| 100% Pure Wildflower Honey, Wildflower | Big Y | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Clover Honey | Stater Bros. | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Honey Crystals | Nektar | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Clover Honey, Clover | Stater Bros. | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
| Orange Blossom 100% Honey, Orange Blossom | Big Y | Processing Level: 1 out of 4 - Minimally Processed | 1.0 | 1 |
How to Read Honey Labels
- 1
"Raw" honey has not been heated above hive temperature (~95F)
- 2
Ultra-filtered honey has had pollen removed — makes origin untraceable
- 3
Single-origin honey is more likely to be genuinely unprocessed
- 4
Avoid honey listing any ingredients besides "honey" — adulteration with corn syrup occurs
Frequently Asked Questions
Is store-bought honey ultra-processed?
Most store-bought honey is Level 1-2. It has been extracted, strained, and possibly heated for bottling. This is minimal processing. However, some cheap blended honey may be adulterated with corn syrup.
Is raw honey better than regular honey?
From a processing standpoint, raw honey is Level 1 (unheated, unfiltered) while regular commercial honey is Level 1-2 (heated and filtered). The processing difference is minimal for pure honey.