For millennia, tribal cultures have had an important relationship with bees. Under the pen name of Sydney Philippe, I have written a novel called Spirits of the Sun, which includes ‘honey-hunting’ and many other dramatic events.
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There are plenty of supermarkets still peddling CEM fake honey even many months after it became illegal.
Being in the food business, I did contact Cem 4 years ago, as I wanted to buy samples. They did agree and went to their “office” or “warehouse” in Mandaluyong. The place was almost impossible to find, no street number on the door, nor Cems or any company sign. Had to call them several times. Then when at the gate , they literally opened the door by 20cm just for the bottles to go through. That was it ! no “hello” or any discussion was possible. I found it very very strange, a typical attitude of someone that has sthg to hide. Then I tried the various honey and understood…. I never tried again……
This is the latest comment by a reader of this website. The Cem scandal has gone on for years, yet still the authorities in the Philippines seem almost disinterested and have not yet brought those responsible to justice, despite overwhelming evidence and testimony.
No communication is coming from the FDA to explain why no action has yet been taken to protect the public from this crime.
It is obvious that all this syrup is not made by Philippine bees – as indicated on the labels. The FDA know this – yet this crime is allowed to take place in the nation’s supermarkets. No response has been received from CEM or the FDA recently.
Without a trading permit it should now be illegal for Cem’s fraudulent ‘honey’ products to be sold to the nation’s supermarkets. (Probably, the existing stock in the shops will get run down.) Assuming that this justice takes place, it is a very good day for the Philippine people giving a chance for a genuine marketplace in honey.
It also gives an opportunity for better recognition of the reality of the pollination crisis in the country which is damaging agriculture and the environment, so that this issue can be properly tackled – leading to better crop yields and improved rural incomes.
82 DOMINGO, M. GUEVARRA ST., MANDALUYONG CITY, MANILA
Dear Honey Fraud team,
Despite clear and ‘obvious’ evidence of fraud in the Philippine supermarket trade, the FDA has so far not acted to protect the public after such a prolonged period.
The permit for a major agent of this fraud, the CEM’s General Merchandising company is due for renewal in a few days time (20th January – I reminded the FDA of this on 29/11/15). Without clear redeeming evidence and justification, it would be a gross injustice to renew this company’s FDA trading permit.
Please click on the following link for clear reasons why this is so..
http://beephilippines.info/request-to-the-cem-company/
Also, a glance at the many supporting responses from Philippine consumers confirms the fact that there are plenty of reasons to suspend the trading permit for such a food company, that is unable and unwilling to verify the quality and source of its food products.
Please can the FDA respond to these serious concerns
Yours sincerely,
Julian Wright
CEM have not responded to the clear accusation of Honey Fraud. If CEM’s operation was legitimately supplying genuine honey, then surely they might bother to reply. Therefore people are left to draw their own conclusions. Below is the FDA permit allowing CEM to continue this abuse of the Philippine public.
