Study reveals not so sweet news for Aussie honey

SYDNEY: Nearly one in five samples of Australian honey is adulterated, with fraudulent addition of cane sugar or corn syrup and mislabelling of geographic origin common in the industry, quotes Xinhua news agency based on the latest research.

“Corn syrup and sugar cane, both a cheaper sugar source than honey, are added commonly to honey to increase product volume, which is then traded as genuine pure honey,” according to the Australian study, which included Macquarie University researchers, reported yesterday.

“Australian honey is characterised as safe and high quality since it is produced in a ‘clean and green’ country with one of the world’s most rigorous apicultural management systems.

“However, recent scandals in which the ‘Australian product’ logo was used falsely on products purporting to be Australian honey have raised public concern on the stated authenticity of honey origin and quality.”

The study included carbon isotopic analyses of honey and protein to examine 100 product samples from Australia, along with 18 other countries from Africa, Asia, Europe, North America and Oceania.

Australia had honey adulteration rate of 18.4 per cent in total, with the produce from its mainland having an adulteration rate of 17.2 per cent compared to 22.2 per cent of samples from its island state Tasmania, reported the researchers.