So once upon a time, you actually got honey at the market replenishing your pot, rather than buying jars in the supermarket. This thing was always in the pot, and you did not use a spoon to get your honey, it works better than a spoon and you just leave it in the pot. Today americans probably bleach their jars, spoons and bees, but honey is surprisingly shelf stable, having a pot with a little hole with this little plunger sticking out is fine really.