In an effort to protect American beekeepers and honey producers, Senator Tommy Tuberville recently introduced legislation that would shield domestic operations from much of the financial harm caused by counterfeit foreign honey imports.

The Honey Integrity Act, according to Tuberville, would help keepers and producers in the United States by instructing the FDA to create a standard identity for honey and require the HHS Secretary to report enforcement against adulterated/misbranded honey to Congress.

On Wednesday, Tuberville (R-Auburn) joined Auburn-Opelika This Morning to discuss the need for his bill.

“I’m doing everything I possibly can to help our farmers because they’re in bad, bad trouble in every area,” said Tuberville. “There’s two things I’m gonna bring up this month. I brought up the honey bill. The honey bill means that if it’s not 100% honey, you ain’t selling it in this country. Don’t call it honey. ”

RELATED: Sen. Tuberville introduces bill to protect American beekeepers, honey producers from fake imports

The Senator explained that many of the foreign honey products coming into the United States are packaged in a particular container that consumers should avoid if they are looking to purchase pure, domestically produced honey.

“What’s happening is you got China and some of these other countries in Asia that mix together corn syrup and water and put a little flavoring in it, and they put them in these little plastic bear containers. Anything that you buy in these bears is not honey,” Tuberville said. “It is fake honey.”

“It’s really killing the industry of the honey growers in our state.”

I REFUSE to stand by idly while our nation’s honey industries are under attack by foreign adversaries.

We must level the playing field for American honey producers so we can have access to pure, quality honey. pic.twitter.com/e9p4VVsjRI

— Coach Tommy Tuberville (@SenTuberville) March 19, 2025

Tuberville stressed that those in the U.S. honey industry deserve a “level playing field.”

“America’s beekeepers and honey producers work tirelessly to ensure that we have access to pure, quality honey,” he said. “But sadly, the lack of uniform standards is creating loopholes that foreign honey producers are increasingly exploiting. Americans deserve to know exactly what they’re putting in their bodies.

The Honey Integrity Act is supported by the American Honey Producers Association, the Alabama Commercial Beekeepers Association (ACBA), and the Alabama Farmers Federation (ALFA).

Austen Shipley is the News Director for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on X @ShipleyAusten