In the picturesque region of northeastern France, a group of beekeepers encountered a curious and colourful dilemma in August 2012. Their bees, known for producing honey of the purest golden hues, began to return to their hives with nectar that transformed their harvest into shades of blue and green. This unusual occurrence puzzled the beekeepers until they discovered the source of the vibrant colours: a nearby M&M’s factory.
The factory, which processed waste from candy production, had been disposing of sugary residues in a manner that attracted the local bee population. The bees, drawn to the high-energy waste, incorporated it into their nectar collection routines. As a result, the honey produced bore the unmistakable mark of the confectionery’s bright dyes.
While the honey retained its natural sweetness, the unconventional colours rendered it unsaleable, leaving the beekeepers in a sticky situation. The incident highlighted the unintended consequences of industrial waste on local wildlife and the importance of responsible waste management. In response, the biogas plant responsible for processing the candy waste implemented measures to prevent future bee access, ensuring the integrity of the region’s honey production and the well-being of its invaluable pollinators.
This reminds me of something I heard a number of years ago during a talk; I have no idea who the speaker was. He said, “We really must look after our young beekeepers. One told me that he had harvested green honey from his hive”. I think that the above article may well be relating to the same incident. Oh well, what goes round comes round (as they say).
Thank you, Frank Crosnier, for this alarming item.
Frank included a photo of a frame containing blue-green honey, but it can’t be reproduced here as it’s from Facebook. If anyone would like to see it, I can send the whole item.