SUGAR HIGH? Some Kiwi honey is failing an export test to detect sugar levels in honey, and that product could end up on domestic supermarket shelves.

Honey lovers scoffing the New Zealand delicacy could be getting an over-sweet deal.

Crown Research Institutes GNS scientist Karyne Rogers says some Kiwi honey is failing an export test to detect sugar levels in honey, and that product could end up on supermarket shelves.

But Rogers said there was no suggestion honey producers were adding sugar. Some people were failing the test unnecessarily, and she was now working on changing it to rule out legitimate honey being rejected for export.

"We know there was a large shipment turned away recently. That was through no fault of the company, there was no adulteration, it just failed a test that we are working to change internationally."

With the manuka honey industry worth $120 million alone, she said it was important New Zealand got it right, and some of the failed product could be the result of poor beekeeping. "We don't know if people are removing sugar or feeding it."

She said although it was rare, in some cases beekeepers were overfeeding their bees with sugar and water during low-pollen months. "Some beekeepers put a large amount of material out and just leave it because the hives might be in a remote place."

She said the best solution was to feed bees honey. "That's all they need, it's why they are making honey, it's their food storage. Traditional beekeepers don't remove all the honey on the frames, they leave some."

NZ Beekeepers Association president Barry Foster said it was rare, but he did know of exporters failing the sugar test. If beekeepers continued to feed their bees close to the honey flow, sugar could get into the end product, he said.