The National Beekeepers Association has rubbished claims that honey should be cut from obese people's diets to help weight loss.
Otago University researchers today released a list of 49 "needn't'' foods as a guide for overweight people to cut from their intake to aid the shedding of kilos.
The itemsmade the blacklist because they are high in fat or added sugars, prepared using a high fat cooking method, have a high amount of energy compared to their essential nurtient content, or have a healthier alternative.
Lead researcher Dr Jane Elmslie said although honey was "great stuff'', it was a form of sugar.
National Beekeepers Association chief executive Daniel Paul said honey had been used for thousands of years by almost every society on earth as a food and energy source.
He said honey was high in antioxidants that help to destroy 'free radicals' that could cause cancer, and had various healing and anti-bacterial properties.
Mr Paul acknowledged that honey is a natural sweetener, which was perhaps why it made the list of 'foods to avoid'.
