Without this standard we have what exists, and that's not good. Some Chinese honey, for example, has been found to contain antibiotics including one banned by the U.S. government. Some foreign-produced honey has been diluted with corn syrup. Chinese producers already ship honey through other nations in order to conceal the honey's origin and avoid U.S. tariffs for dumping products at prices below the cost of production.

The honey problem is just the latest problem with foreign-made foods. Recall the melamine contamination scandal of about two years ago in which Chinese companies adulterated animal feed and baby formula with a chemical that gave falsely high readings of protein content-and also promoted the formation of kidney stones that sickened thousands of children and killed several. The honey situation does not rise to that dangerous level, but the issue is the same: the purity and trustworthiness of our food supply.

A formal honey label would provide the same assurance that comes from stickers identifying Wisconsin-made cheese or organic food. The labels provide buyers with an idea of the quality of a product yet would also have the option of buying other products if their tastes or budgets dictated.

This is a bill that should become law, and once it is done we should consider doing the same for other foods not well defined in state or federal law. This is not provincialism or protectionism. It is providing information to buyers, and it encourages the maintenance of our local food production system. In turn that system helps keep local people employed, fuels the local economy, generates fresher food and, given the price of fuel, holds food prices down in the longer term.

Without definitive action, life for local honey producers, and other food producers, may become bitter indeed.