Why Real Honey Matters: A Lesson in Food Integrity with Lina

By Jamillah of Sofi Works Food Services

Every so often, I get the chance to see my passion for food safety and integrity reflected through someone else's lens—and recently, it came through the vibrant eyes and voice of a young TikTok creator, Lina from @linas_free_range_eggs. In one of her latest videos, she shared her excitement about discovering local honey, exploring how it’s harvested, and expressing a deep curiosity about the journey from hive to jar.

Watching Lina’s video filled me with pride—not only because I’ve had the chance to influence her growing love for real, honest food—but also because she’s helping bring a crucial conversation to life: How do we know our honey is real? (Look out for more on this topic in an upcoming post!)

As a Food Consultant, I spend a lot of time thinking about that very question—not just with honey, but with many high-value foods. In fact, honey is one of the most adulterated foods worldwide. Whether it’s diluted with sugar syrup, mislabelled in origin, or blended with unknown additives, fake honey can be found on shelves across the globe, sometimes even without consumers realizing.

This is where verification systems in the food supply chain become absolutely essential.

I often explain that it’s not just about trusting a pretty label. It’s about systems. Systems that verify the source, test the purity and composition, and ensure that what’s claimed on the packaging is actually what’s inside. From traceability records at the apiary to third-party lab testing, these checks form the backbone of food authenticity assurance.

Why does this matter? Because consumers like Lina—and like all of us—deserve the right to know that what we’re buying is real.

When young influencers like Lina talk about their food journey, they don’t just make content. They start conversations. They invite curiosity. They challenge us to look closer at our food systems.

Lina’s enthusiasm reminded me that food education doesn’t need to be complicated. It just needs to be shared—openly, honestly, and in ways that connect with people’s everyday lives.

And if one short TikTok can spark that level of curiosity about honey, imagine what could happen if more young voices joined the food integrity conversation.

Here at Sofi Works Food Services, I’m committed to making that conversation louder and clearer—for businesses, consumers, and the next generation of food thinkers like Lina.

Because food shouldn’t just be delicious. It should be trustworthy.

Stay curious, stay informed, and always ask: “Where did this come from?” Until next time,

Jamillah

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/fcda2e_15e4fe43351241e5a853db1b1995387c/720p/mp4/file.mp4