The New York Times gets buzzed by the bee fad

The New York Times is often cited by me as a balanced, thoroughly researched, and well-written source of information. But in a recent article about the supposed health benefits of bee products  (The Wellness World’s Buzzy New Best Friend – The New York Times), such as honey and pollen, the Times reporter, who shall go nameless in this post, got buzzed.

Honey does, in fact, have some moisturizing effect on the skin. Beeswax soothes chapped lips and has some other benefits.

But bee pollen? royal jelly? propolis? Well, not so much.

In fact, not at all.

Charlatans have been making outrageous claims about bee pollen for years, and there is nothing to support those claims. The writer of the article says, “Some studies back up various promises” about bee products, but she never comes closes to disclosing what studies and what promises she’s talking about.

The single note of skepticism in this article comes from a dermatologist, who is quoted at the end of the story.

Otherwise, the article is a piece of false advertising for “products” that don’t do what some people claim they do. The Times’ editors should have demanded more from their reporter.