By Matthew Walker, Walk in the Woods Apiary
When it comes to feeding bees, every beekeeper has their own playbook. Some stick with cane sugar syrup, others experiment with protein patties and pollen substitutes, and a growing number — myself included — use high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS).
HFCS sometimes gets a bad reputation, but in my experience, it can be an excellent feed option for both commercial and hobbyist beekeepers when sourced and stored properly. Let’s unpack what it is, why I use it, and how to keep it safe for your bees.
What Is HFCS, Really?
HFCS is made from corn starch that’s broken down into glucose, then treated with enzymes to convert some of that glucose into fructose. The version used in beekeeping is typically around 55% fructose and 45% glucose — not far from the sugar profile of natural nectar.
One of the biggest advantages? It’s a liquid feed that doesn’t crystallize easily, meaning you can store it for months without the hassle of mixing batches every few days.
Why I Choose HFCS for My Bees
After trying just about every feeding method out there, HFCS checked more boxes for my operation than anything else. Here’s why:
1. Convenience and Efficiency
Mixing large batches of sugar syrup can be time-consuming, messy, and hard on equipment. HFCS comes ready to go — I pump it straight into feeders. For a busy apiary, this time savings is huge.
2. Consistent Quality
When purchased from reputable bee supply distributors, HFCS is formulated for bees. That means it’s clean, filtered, and free from the flavorings or additives you might see in food-grade versions.
3. Nectar-Like Composition
Bees are naturally adapted to nectar, which contains a mix of sucrose, glucose, and fructose. HFCS mirrors that sugar profile, making it readily accepted by colonies without the adjustment period you sometimes see with other feeds.
Addressing the Concerns
It’s true that HFCS has gotten a bad rap over the years, but most of the horror stories come from misuse or poor-quality syrup. Here’s how I avoid the pitfalls:
- Watch for HMF Formation: Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) can form when HFCS is exposed to high heat or stored for too long. I keep mine in cool, shaded storage tanks and use it within a few months to prevent this.
- Buy from Bee-Specific Suppliers: This ensures the syrup is pesticide-free and processed with bees in mind.
- Use as a Supplement, Not a Replacement for Honey: HFCS is excellent for feeding in times of dearth or for building up winter stores, but I still let my bees keep plenty of their own honey whenever possible.
When I Feed HFCS
I typically use HFCS in these scenarios:
- Building colonies up in early spring
- Emergency feeding during nectar dearths
- Helping new splits and nucs get established
- Fall feeding to ensure winter survival
The beauty of HFCS is that it flows easily in cold weather, so late-season feeding is much smoother than with thick cane sugar syrup.
The Bottom Line
High-fructose corn syrup isn’t a “junk food” for bees — at least not when you buy a clean, bee-safe product and store it properly. For me, it’s been a game-changer in terms of efficiency, consistency, and colony health.
Beekeeping is full of choices, and every beekeeper has to find what works for their bees, their climate, and their schedule. HFCS just happens to be the right fit for mine.
