What is "pure" sugar?

[Stone]

Is there a "granulated sugar" that should not be fed to bees? I just bought a no name brand of "granulated" sugar and after diluting it with water to make syrup, it was cloudy and not as light in color as Domino or other brands I have used.  Said, "Granulate Sugar" on the label and said: "Ingredients: Sugar."  Any ideas?

[hankdog1]

well i'll tell you usually no name stuff is the final product that doesn't make the grade for whatever reason.  nothing wrong with it just doesn't meet standards for being as appealing as a brand name product.  so i wouldn't worry about it i feed whatever is cheapest so it's always some off brand of sugar.  haven't had any problems with it yet. 

[iddee]

When I've seen it labeled "pure", it has also said "cane" sugar. When it says only sugar, it's likely beet sugar.

[hardwood]

"pure sugar"=crystalline disaccharide :-D

Scott

[Stone]

And if it is beet sugar, I assume it's okay to feed to the bees.  Correct? 

[Bee Happy]

I remember in another sugar discussion someone mentioning something negative about beet sugar. I honestly don't remember the specifics, but the generally agreed one to feed bees was "pure cane" sugar. (except organics, and I can't say for sure how narrow the requirements to be organic are.)

[AllenF]

It matters not at all if it's beet sugar or cane sugar.  It matters a lot if it's granulated white sugar or anything else. Powdered sugar, brown sugar, molasses and any other unrefined sugar is not good for bees. They can't handle the solids.    Copied from MB's site.

[Michael Bush]

I've fed plenty of beet sugar with no issues.  If it doesn't say it's cane sugar, odds are it's beet sugar.

[woodchopper]

I remember in another sugar discussion someone mentioning something negative about beet sugar. I honestly don't remember the specifics, but the generally agreed one to feed bees was "pure cane" sugar. (except organics, and I can't say for sure how narrow the requirements to be organic are.)

Must of been the Swedish Study that said feeding bees sugar syrup would kill four microbes in the honey bees stomach?  That study used only beet sugar and some people here have the opinion that there are no differences between beet and cane sugar. Many crops grown in different countries are subject to different pesticides and processing from field to package. I'd want to see positive proof that there wasn't any differences before I labeled all sugar the same. Fair is fair. Also that study forced the bees to eat ONLY sugar syrup for an extended amount of time which doesn't happen to hives under normal circumstances. 
 Although I mostly feed my girls left over honey I do feed them small amounts of syrup every spring. If MB says its safe and beekeepers have been doing it for decades I'll favor that over the negative comments. :-D

[Bee Happy]

I should clarify what I meant about "organics" as well - Meaning organic beekeeping methods, not the evaporated cane syrup. Thanks for the clear answer MB.

[BjornBee]

I remember in another sugar discussion someone mentioning something negative about beet sugar.

That can be said of everything.....  :roll:

[Bee Happy]

I remember in another sugar discussion someone mentioning something negative about beet sugar.

That can be said of everything.....  :roll:

Yep, just that I remember from that discussion (MBs new light aside) that a few people said there was something bad in beet sugar, while cane sugar was preferred overall for feeding.