The term “Raw” isn't a legally defined or regulated term. A brand can overheat honey to 160°F (even higher), strip out the pollen, and still legally stamp “Raw” on the jar. That matters because heat and heavy processing can change honey’s pollen content, and delicate naturally occurring enzymes.

Honey fraud is real — sometimes cut with cheap syrups, and laundered across borders to hide where it came from. An EU-wide action found 147 of 320 imported honey consignments, or 46%, suspicious for adulteration

Raw Honey Project is different: We always use USA raw honey (primarily sourcing from the Dakotas) and only gently warm as needed (below 105°F) to facilitate handling — not the high-heat processing often used to make honey faster, clearer, and easier to bottle.