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AUTHENTICITY
TESTING OF HONEY
Isotope Analysis for Detection of the Economic Adulteration of Honey
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The economic adulteration of honey with
low cost sugar syrup is known to occur with some regularity. To
provide consumer confidence and add value to quality honey produce,
many honey producers and importers have opted to test their honey purity
using the carbon-13 isotope methods recommended by the Association of
Official Analytical Chemists (AOAC). These methods can detect the adulteration
of expensive honey with cheap high-fructose corn syrup (HFCS) and cane
sugar. |
Honey Carbon-13 Analysis Package
(Cat. No.: FC31P ...............
£60 per sample)
See Example Laboratory Report
Our Honey Carbon-13 analysis
package allows detection of adulteration of pure honey with HFCS or cane sugar.
It is conducted every week to the standard required by AOAC methods 978.17 &
991.41 and is recommended by the British Honey Importers & Packers Association.
(BHIPA).
The first stage in the analysis is to measure the carbon-13 content
of the honey. The carbon-13 content of pure honey is distinctly different from that
of HFCS or cane sugar, allowing confirmation of gross adulteration with sugar syrup
(greater than 20 % sugar syrup). The second stage of the analysis involves extraction
of protein from honey and subsequent measurement of the carbon-13 content of the honey
protein. Finally, the carbon-13 content of the honey and the honey protein are compared.
If the honey has been adulterated with more than 7 % sugar syrup the honey
will contain significantly more carbon-13 than the honey protein.
We require
50 grams of honey to be supplied for analysis. Samples received by 10 a.m. on Wednesday
will be reported on Friday of the same week. Our laboratory reports
include carbon-13 content of honey and honey protein, as determined by duplicate
analysis, the difference between the carbon-13 content of the honey and the protein
and an interpretation of the outcome of the analysis.
For further
information on our isotope analyses for authentication of honey please
Email us or use our
quote form.
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