NZFSA seizes $1m honey order

The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has seized a $1 million honey order due for export.

The product, labelled as honey, was being packed in Timaru when it was seized last month, The Timaru Herald reported.

NZFSA spokesman Justin Rowlands said the authority was trying to determine whether the product complied with the Animal Products Act and the Food Act.

He would not say where the honey had come from, which market it was destined for, or the nature of the possible Act breaches.

No further comment would be made until the investigation was complete.

The issue was thought to relate to the honey's unique manuka factor (UMF).

New Zealand Honey Producers Co-op general manager Warren Reynolds said the honey had not been seized from his company's South Canterbury factory.

Honey Valley New Zealand Ltd, also in Timaru, packs honey for both the domestic and overseas market.

Company managing director Steve Lyttle was not available for comment today.

Active Manuka Honey Association brand manager John Rawcliffe was unaware of the case.

UMF is an antibacterial property that is naturally present in some strains of manuka honey, making it highly sought-after for its health-giving qualities.

- NZPA