The MEP for Suffolk has stood up for local beekeepers by creating a buzz at the European Parliament today.

Alex Mayer held a jar of honey harvested by members of the West Suffolk Bee Keepers Association while she gave a speech to representatives from across Europe, explaining how local producers are under threat from so-called ‘honey fraudsters’.

Ms Mayer said overseas importers cause local producers grief by adding sugar syrup to their product or harvesting it early and artificially drying it out to cut time and costs.

Honey is the third-most adulterated product in the world with 20% of imported honey samples not respecting EU standards.

Ms Mayer said: “Producing honey is hard work; one little jar of liquid gold represents the nectar from two million flowers. That’s why I support a fight back with improved testing procedures, better labelling and higher penalties for fraudsters.”