BroodSafe

BroodSafe is a feeding supplement built around naturally occurring Paenibacillus larvae bacteriophages — viruses that occur in nature and specifically target P. larvae, the bacterium responsible for American foulbrood (AFB) in honey bee colonies. It's designed to support beneficial microbial balance, brood vigor, and overall colony resilience.

Bacteriophages are viruses that infect and replicate inside specific bacteria. Unlike broad-spectrum antibiotics, phages are highly targeted — a P. larvae phage attaches to and disrupts only P. larvae cells, leaving the colony's other beneficial microbes, and the bees themselves, alone. This specificity is the core idea behind phage research into American foulbrood, which has been studied by university and government researchers for over a decade as an alternative to antibiotic treatment.

BroodSafe is designed to fit into feeding routines beekeepers already use. There are two supported methods: mix it into liquid sugar syrup and distribute it through your normal feeding routine, or dust it directly above the brood chambers for a quicker in-hive application. Use the recommended amount for your colony size before applying either way.

Bacteriophages are naturally occurring and highly specific to their bacterial host, which is why phage-based approaches have drawn interest as a lower-impact alternative to broad antibiotic treatment in hives. That said, BroodSafe is intended to support overall hive health and microbial balance — it has not been evaluated or approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Beekeepers are responsible for following all product instructions, local regulations, and accepted hive management practices.

No. BroodSafe is a hive supplement intended to support overall colony health and microbial balance — it is not marketed, evaluated, or approved as a treatment, cure, or preventative for AFB or any other disease. If you suspect an active AFB infection, follow your local apiary inspection and regulatory guidance.

BroodSafe is available in three sizes — 10 doses, 30 doses, and 100 doses — so backyard beekeepers and commercial operations alike can size an order to their number of hives. Price per dose drops as pack size increases.

BroodSafe was developed with Dr. Sandra Hope in collaboration with the BYU Phage Hunters, a university research program focused on isolating and characterizing bacteriophages.

BroodSafe is coming soon. Join the early access list and let us know how many hives you keep, and we'll notify you as soon as it's available to order.