If you, like most people, buy your honey from a standard grocery store, you may be bummed to learn it’s probably not real honey. While there might be some real honey in those bear-shaped bottles as a base, it’s likely been diluted with high-fructose corn syrup along with other not-so-healthy fillers. This is what industry experts call “laundered honey,” and what may surprise you most is that it can legally be labeled and sold as pure, unadulterated honey.
Some companies haven’t even been shy about it. According to NPR, one of the country’s biggest honey producers, Groeb Farms from Onsted, Michigan, admitted to buying massive amounts of laundered honey from Chinese exporters. Bee Local founder Damian Magista explained to Pop Sugar how this happens, saying,
“Large quantities of Chinese-produced honey are being 'dumped' illegally on the U.S. market. To curb the importation of chemical-ridden honey, the United States established high tariffs on honey imported from China. Taxes drive up prices, so big companies are essentially sneaking this honey in to keep their costs low.”
So it sounds like you either have the option of doing some research and paying a premium for real, pure honey or saving a few bucks and settling on honey-flavored sugar water. However, if you’re in the latter camp, you might want to consider the ethical dilemmas of mislabeled honey. For instance, because the Food and Drug Administration hasn’t come up with a standardized legal definition for honey, bottles of the golden liquid can be labeled 100 percent pure even though they might contain unsafe chemicals and additives—not to mention added and unnecessary sugars.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently putting bees on the endangered species list adds another dimension to this counterfeit honey problem. If we’re going to demand clearer labeling on our honey bottles, we’ll need to demand transparency from the beekeeping industry as well. As Magista says, “Bees are essential to our ecosystem and help pollinate produce, plants, and trees.” Losing these pollinator heavyweights could have a serious impact on the world’s food supply, something we probably need to prioritize if we plan to keep eating food, let alone honey.
Parents of young children get more time with them if they work from home.Photo credit: Canva
Juicy subject matter
Giphy from The Blacklist.
We could start a rumor.
Grieving couple comforting each other
This response to someone grieving a friend might be the best internet comment ever
When someone is hit with the sudden loss of a friend or loved one, words rarely feel like enough. Yet, more than a decade ago, a wise Redditor named GSnow shared thoughts so profound they still bring comfort to grieving hearts today.
Originally posted around 2011, the now-famous reply was rediscovered when Upvoted, an official Reddit publication, featured it again to remind everyone of its enduring truth. It began as a simple plea for help: “My friend just died. I don't know what to do.”
What followed was a piece of writing that many consider one of the internet’s best comments of all time. It remains shared across social media, grief forums, and personal messages to this day because its honesty and metaphor speak to the raw reality of loss and the slow, irregular path toward healing.
Below is GSnow’s full reply, unchanged, in all its gentle, wave-crashing beauty:
Why this advice still matters
Mental health professionals and grief counselors often describe bereavement in stages or phases, but GSnow’s “wave theory” gives an image more relatable for many. Rather than a linear process, grief surges and retreats—sometimes triggered by a song, a place, or a simple morning cup of coffee.
In recent years, this metaphor has found renewed relevance. Communities on Reddit, TikTok, and grief support groups frequently reshare it to help explain the unpredictable nature of mourning.
Many readers say this analogy helps them feel less alone, giving them permission to ride each wave of grief rather than fight it.
Finding comfort in shared wisdom
Since this comment first surfaced, countless people have posted their own stories underneath it, thanking GSnow and passing the words to others facing fresh heartbreak. It’s proof that sometimes, the internet can feel like a global support group—strangers linked by shared loss and hope.
For those searching for more support today, organizations like The Dougy Center, GriefShare, and local bereavement groups offer compassionate resources. If you or someone you know is struggling with intense grief, please reach out to mental health professionals who can help navigate these deep waters.
When grief comes crashing like the ocean, remember these words—and hang on. There is life between the waves.
This article originally appeared four years ago.