Does honey contain animal proteins?

Question

From a nutritional standpoint, is honey vegan? Or does it contain animal proteins?

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Answer 1

Honey contains only trace amounts (~1mg per gram of honey) of proteins, and they come from the bee, as this study found:

All proteins identified in the four honey types belonged to two groups of Apis mellifera proteome: the MRJP [Major Royal Jelly proteins] family and the enzymes involved in carbohydrate metabolism.

(Whether insect proteins are considered animal proteins would be another question.)

1 tbsp of raw honey:

Compare this to an equal amount of whole cow's milk, which has a significantly higher amount of (animal) proteins:

Answer 2

Well, no, honey is not considered vegan regardless of the origin of any protein, simply because it is the result of beekeeping, and bees are animals.