Organic Groups Target “100% Pure” Sioux Honey for Glyphosate

The Organic Consumers Association (OCA) and Beyond Pesticides
have filed a complaint against the Sioux Honey Association alleging the
company’s Sue Bee® honey products contain the herbicide glyphosate
despite being marketed as “Pure” and “Natural.” Organic Consumers
Assoc. v. Sioux Honey Assoc. Coop., No. 008012 (D.C. Super. Ct., filed
November 1, 2016). The complaint acknowledges that the glyphosate
“may be due to the application of glyphosate on crops by neighboring
farms and unrelated to beekeeping activities” but argues that the labeling
is inaccurate regardless. The plaintiff organizations seek an injunction
enjoining the labeling and mandating a corrective advertising campaign
as well as costs.

“A consumer seeing the words ‘Pure,’ ‘100% Pure’ or ‘Natural’ on a honey
product would reasonably expect that product to contain nothing other
than honey,” OCA International Director Ronnie Cummins said in a
November 1, 2016, press release. “Regardless of how these products came
to be contaminated, Sioux Honey has an obligation to either prevent the
contamination, disclose the contamination, or at the very least, remove
these deceptive labels.”

Issue 621