Response from British Sugar

"UK sugar beet is not sprayed with any neonicotinoid pesticide and none are approved for such use. Sugar beet is not a flowering plant and hence does not attract bees. Neonicotinoid pesticides are approved for use in the protective seed coating used to aid plant germination and early growth. The coating degrades naturally in the soil and beet plant, and is inactive by May when the plant becomes established. Home produced sugar is subject to a comprehensive residue testing programme and no neonicotinoid pesticides have been detected in British sugar.
Therefore home produced beet sugar poses no risk to bees.

Ignoring the fact that

1. If any pesticide was found in sugar, it would have to be taken off the market
2. Neo-nicotinoids in seed dressings are never in high enough concentrations if used appropriately, to have any impact on bees
3. Sugar is a pure product - it contains ONLY sugar (by law)"