Understanding Tutin Risks in New Zealand Honey

Tutin is a naturally occurring neurotoxin found in the native tutu plant (Coriaria arborea). Passion vine hoppers feed on tutu sap and produce honeydew containing tutin. When bees collect that honeydew, the toxin can enter the honey. It does not harm the bees, but it can cause serious poisoning in people.^{1, 4}

The main risk period is usually January to April, particularly across the North Island and upper South Island. Areas identified as high risk include Coromandel, Eastern Bay of Plenty and Marlborough.⁴

Contamination can occur when these three factors come together:

1. Tutu plants are present within the bees’ foraging area.
2. Passion vine hoppers feed on the tutu and produce honeydew.
3. Bees collect the honeydew, particularly when other attractive food sources are limited.

Tutin poisoning can cause giddiness, exhaustion and vomiting, and may progress to seizures, stupor or coma. Severe poisoning can be fatal. In 2008, an outbreak associated with comb honey from Whangamatā affected 22 people.⁴

Managing the risk before honey is sold or shared is an essential part of responsible beekeeping.

The Australia New Zealand Food Standards Code sets a maximum tutin level of 0.7 mg/kg for both honey and honeycomb. The lower testing criterion used for cut-comb honey is a separate requirement.^{1, 4}

Sampling cut-comb honey

MPI’s guidance describes collecting the combined drippings and honey from imperfectly filled combs from the same apiary harvest, mixing thoroughly, and testing the representative sample. Follow the full sampling requirements and your accredited laboratory’s instructions. Cut-comb samples cannot be composited for testing.³

What about box-section comb honey?

Box-section comb honey is produced in its finished section or container, without being cut. It cannot use the direct testing option, because a representative sample cannot be taken without destroying the comb. Producers must use an applicable low-risk compliance pathway.³

The Food Standard: Tutin in Honey provides five options. Each has specific conditions and record-keeping requirements.^{1, 2}

1. Laboratory testing: hold compliant test results. This option is not available for box-section comb honey.
2. Low-risk harvest dates: hold records showing honey supers were placed on hives after 1 July and removed by 31 December of the same year.
3. Absence of significant tutu: hold the required evidence about tutu within the bees’ foraging area.
4. Low-risk location: hold records demonstrating that apiaries are south of 42°S.
5. Targeted testing over several years: establish and maintain the required low-risk history for the apiary.

Yes, where an appropriate compliance option applies. The harvest-date option is straightforward, but it is not the only pathway. Option 5 allows qualifying apiaries to establish a low-risk history through targeted testing.³

This means an apiary with the qualifying history and records does not necessarily have to finish box-section comb production on 31 December. Check the full standard and MPI guidance before relying on this option, including the requirements for the apiary, sampling and records.^{2, 3}

• Know the site. Check for tutu and passion vine hoppers across the foraging area.
• Choose your compliance pathway early. Make sure it suits the apiary, harvest dates and type of honey you intend to produce.
• Keep clear records. Record hive locations, super placement and removal dates, harvest details and relevant test results.
• Speak to your laboratory before sampling. Cut-comb honey and extracted honey have different sampling requirements.
• Share the evidence with your packer. They need the relevant information to demonstrate compliance.

These requirements apply to honey for sale or export, including honey donated or bartered. MPI also recommends that beekeepers producing honey only for their own use follow the standard.¹