Honey: There is no plan Bee

By Ghanim al-SulaitiAsa long-time vegan and owner of several vegan businesses, I’m oftenasked by friends, colleagues, followers and readers about which foodsare vegan, or if it’s ok to eat certain foods. It’s why I wanted todedicate this week’s column to clearing up the truth about honeyproduction, and the Bee Crises. Fact: the idea that you can obtain honeywithout harming bees is a myth. If you’re buying honey, you cannotpretend that it comes naturally from wild hives or that the bees aremaking it happily and sustainably. Honey isn’t vegan because, in orderto obtain it, humans exploit bees.Bees create honey to store thefood that the hive needs to survive over winter, when there are noflowers around. If we eat honey, we are taking their food. When we takethat honey, either the hive dies…or you have to feed the beesartificially, with sugar, in order to keep them alive. In fact,hives are routinely burned after the honey is harvested, because that’scheaper than feeding them. It’s animal abuse, and proves that there isnothing ethical about ‘honey business’.Beekeepers keep bees inartificial conditions rather than their natural beehives, and then takethe honey from them for supermarkets and stores. While we have grown upassociating bees with honey, and somehow assuming that the honey belongsto us —it’s time we all face the reality that bees create their honeyfor a very specific reason – it’s their sole food source through thecold winter months. Honey provides essential nutrients to bees, andis vital to the wellbeing of every hive. And yet, our human-forcedoperation to keep bees supplying honey for us has led to an extremelydamaging result. Millions of bees are dying off, threatening ourenvironment and our food supply. We rely on bees to pollinate everythingfrom almonds to fresh fruit. If they are unable to pollinate…whathappens? It’s simple: No bees, no food.In recent years, beekeepersreport they’re losing on average 30% of all honeybee colonies eachwinter. They’re disappearing at a faster rate than ever before, meaningwe should all do our bit to act on the crises. Planting flowers,including sunflowers, lavender, and flowering cactus, will provide beeswith nectar and pollen. Even growing a few little herbs; such as mint,parsley, and oregano — on a windowsill or balcony can help feed bees.(And in turn, they help us actually keep a plant alive)We must letbees keep their honey. They need it for nourishment more than humansneed it for flavouring. Vegan, ethical honey alternatives include agavenectar, maple syrup, and more. Agave nectar comes from the agave plant,and is slightly sweeter and thinner than honey. Maple syrup is made fromthe sap of sugar, black or red maple trees. These trees grow in colderclimates – they store starch in their roots during winter, which turnsinto sugar and rises up to be harvested as sap in the spring.Whenleft alone, bees are natural human-helpers. Saving them also meanssaving ourselves, and our planets environment, plant-based foods andhabitats. * The author is an expert in vegan wellbeing and health. Instagram handle: @Ghanim92