The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) conducted an investigation to understand adulteration in honey. As part of this, honey samples were sent for testing at two laboratories. These laboratories were:
- Centre for Analysis and Learning in Livestock and Food (CALF), National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), Gujarat, India
- A renowned food testing laboratory in Germany
A total of 13 honey brands were tested. Eight of these are big brands selling processed honey. Five are niche brands. Four out these five sell raw honey.
Samples were purchased during Aug-Nov, 2020 from retail stores in Delhi and major online platforms. For each brand, multiple samples of the same batch were purchased. In addition, in some cases, samples of different batches were also purchased.
Samples sent to CALF, NDDB were tested on parameters set by the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) operationalised in 2020. Key adulteration parameters are tests for C4/C3 sugars, foreign oligosaccharides, Specific Marker for Rice (SMR) i.e. 2-acetylfuran-3-glucopyranoside (AFGP).
- C4 sugars are those derived from C4 plants (plants using C4 photosynthetic pathway) such as corn, sugarcane
- C3 sugars are those derived from C3 plants (plants using C3 photosynthetic pathway) such as rice, beet root
- Foreign oligosaccharides are starch-based polysaccharide sugars such as from rice and corn.
Samples sent to the German lab were tested for Trace Marker for Rice syrup (TMR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) profiling. These two tests are not part of the current FSSAI standards. NMR is an advanced test to check for adulteration and confirmation of origin of honey.
Samples were sent to the two laboratories in different phases as the study evolved.
Laboratory test results of honey samples – key adulteration parameters
Overall, 17 out of 22 samples (77 per cent) were found to be adulterated. Samples of three out of 13 brands passed all tests. These include five samples in total from Saffola, Markfed Sohna, and Nature’s Nectar (one out of two samples). Summary of brand-wise results is mentioned below:
- Dabur honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar, but failed the NMR tests on all three samples. In one sample it also failed on TMR
- Patanjali honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar, but failed on TMR and NMR tests in both samples
- Apis Himalaya failed on test for foreign oligosaccharides and SMR and also failed the TMR and NMR tests
- Baidyanath honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar, but failed on NMR. In one sample it also failed on TMR • Zandu honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar and for TMR but failed on NMR
- Nature’s Nectar passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar and for TMR. One sample failed NMR and one sample passed NMR
- Hitkary passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar but failed on TMR and NMR
- Saffola honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar and passed on TMR and NMR
- Markfed Sohna passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar and passed on TMR and NMR
- Dadev forest honey failed tests for C4 sugar and failed on NMR. It passed on TMR
- Indigenous honey passed tests for C3 and C4 sugar and for TMR, but failed on NMR
- Hi Honey failed tests for C4 and failed on NMR. It passed on TMR
- Societe Naturelle honey failed tests for C4 and passed on foreign oligosaccharides, TMR and NM.
Source: https://www.cseindia.org
