Changes

Honey is perhaps one of our oldest continuously used known food items that likely has its origin long before the rise of modern humans. The evolution of honey has even led to our development for sweet tastes that are today often satisfied by sugar or artificial sweeteners. Honey production was also nearly universal, even in the ancient world, where New and Old World varieties saw different method of cultivation, including development of artificial beehives. Honey keeping, relative to other food products, changed very little until about the mid 19th century, when artificial beehives developed into their more modern form that allowed the preservation of bees and easier harvesting of honey. Today, the rise of artificial honey has created greater standards of what constitutes as honey. After a period of decline when sugar replaced honey in many countries as a sweetener for products that were once sweetened by honey, such as cakes, more modern consumers are valuing honey for its perceived health and food value, leading to a reemergence of honey production worldwide. However, with the recent decline of the honeybee in many countries, this food item is now under renewed threat.

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