Honeybees and various other pollinating insects play an essential role in the production of nearly one-third of our food and beverages. Pollinators such as bees, butterflies, and other species contribute to the creation of $24 billion worth of crops. They are also vital for growing plants like alfalfa and clover, which are consumed by cattle. Specifically, honeybee pollination is responsible for $15 billion in crops from over 130 different fruits and vegetables. However, exposure to pesticides is not the only danger these pollinators encounter. Bees are vanishing at an alarming rate due to a phenomenon called colony collapse disorder.
In recent years, honey sales have surged, partly because consumers are increasingly favoring natural sweeteners. From 2011 to 2016, U.S. sugar sales fell by 16%, while honey sales skyrocketed by 57%. It’s no surprise that most honey samples tested positive for some level of pesticide. Enthusiasts are likely to keep purchasing honey unless limited supplies push prices too high; the presence of pesticides—at levels deemed safe for human consumption, as noted in this study—probably won’t deter most buyers.
Last year, the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services published findings from a two-year study highlighting the rapid decline of bee populations. Annual assessments of U.S. beekeepers have indicated that approximately 29% of honeybee colonies have perished during winter months since 2006. Food companies conscious of this issue are attempting to raise awareness. Alex Placzek, the U.S. marketing director for Häagen-Dazs, mentioned that honeybees pollinate many ingredients used in their ice cream, bars, and sorbet, with around 40% of all Häagen-Dazs flavors depending on bee-pollinated ingredients.
Brands like Celestial Seasonings from Hain Celestial and Talenti, a Unilever brand, have teamed up with the Xerces Society, a nonprofit organization dedicated to bee conservation. Whole Foods has organized “Human Bee-In” events and “Give Bees A Chance” promotions in recent years. Additionally, General Mills has collaborated with the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service and the Xerces Society in a five-year initiative aimed at restoring over 100,000 acres of pollinator habitat by 2021.
Earlier this year, the nonprofit group Beyond Pesticides filed a lawsuit against Mott’s for allegedly misleading “natural” labeling on its applesauce products. The complaint argued that residues of the neonicotinoid insecticide, which includes calcium citrate les, should disqualify these products from being labeled as “natural,” as such labeling misleads consumers into thinking the products are free of synthetic substances. This concern underscores the broader implications of pesticide use and its effects on both pollinators and food safety.