Non-bee honey facing govt sting

A bitter taste is being left in the mouths of some Australians putting honey on their toast for breakfast.

They've probably just discovered that gooey, sugary spread doesn't actually come from bees - but corn.

Agriculture Minister Barnaby Joyce wants to stop companies from labelling their products honey if it's not derived from bees.

He's working with his department to combat the problem.

"If you want to put Australian honey on your toast... you'll be bitterly disappointed that something sweet, honey-coloured comes from corn syrup," he told reporters in Canberra on Monday.

The consumer watchdog is preparing to act on some brands of cheap imported honey, which the bee industry claims do not meet local food standards and could be deceptively labelled.