Letters

The fast paragraph in Dr Jacob Mogga’s article Quality honey from affordable local-style hives (page 3 of BfDJ 89 December 2008) bothers me and | hope you can publish a warning in the next issue:

“Honey should be extracted only by draining through perforated containers or galvanized wire mesh. It must at all times be properly covered with a clean sheet or cloth to avoid bee foragers coming to collect the honey".

Galvanized iron mesh is coated in zinc, a toxic element. The zinc can be taken up by the honey. Many years ago honey arriving in plastic barrels in the UK was rejected because the metal plugs were made of cast zinc. Parts of frame hives may be galvanized, for example runners, or even made of zinc, for example queen excluders, but a thin coating of propolis seems to prevent attack. So I would discourage the use of galvanized wire mesh.

Do keep up the good work. May we all enjoy a peaceful 2009, start getting global warming under control and develop beekeeping everywhere.

Dr Fred Clark, London, UK