Honey and its Adulterations
Honey adulteration is one of the prominent malpractices around the globe. The sole reason behind such a massive level of adulteration is the demand-supply gap. As per reports, in close to 10 out of 13 honey bottles in the market are adulterated to a certain extent.
Honey is an essential product for nurturing body requirements. The consistent awareness amongst people with regards to the benefits of pure and raw honey has grown the honey demand. To match the demand, various adulteration processes have also been incorporated. Using pure and raw honey from Aalaa can boost your overall health.
What are honey adulteration products?
1. Jaggery Syrup
2. Molasses
3. Liquid Glucose
4. Invert Sugar
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup
6. Rice Syrup
Let’s have a detailed discussion on every adulterant used in honey.
1. Jaggery Syrup
Jaggery syrup adulteration in honey is one of the oldest honey adulteration methods. Colour proximity of jaggery syrup makes it easy to adulterate with real and pure honey.
This method is although confined to the local village and tribal people providing wild honey. There are various methods like Infrared Technique.
2. Molasses
Molasses are the most common product used for adulteration. Being a by-product of the refining process during sugar production holds a sweet taste. Looking upon consistency, it is quite similar to that of honey and exhibits dark turbid colour.
In ancient times, molasses was prominently added into wild bee honey. Although adulteration through molasses has reduced significantly, as honey available today is quite transparent.
3. Liquid Glucose
Liquid glucose is one of the prominent additives of honey and more famously used in the confectionery industry. The very easy accessibility and similar colour to that of honey, has made it the worst adulterant of honey. Liquid glucose can be easily gauged by the F/G ratio test.
4. Invert Sugar
Prepared with the parent component cane sugar, also known as sucrose. Being readily available has made it one of the famous adulterants. Mainly used in the confectionery and culinary industry. Having similar texture to that of honey has made it one of the most generally used additive.
5. High Fructose Corn Syrup
HFCS or High Fructose Corn Syrup has been a modern additive to honey. Although India imports large quantities to carry on with chemical productions. Mimicking very similar to that of honey, various local brands use HFCS to dilute honey.
Although think shining appearance quite easily mimics natural honey. The adulteration can be easily checked through carbon isotope tests.
6. Rice Syrup
Rice Syrup is one of the most modern and advanced adulterants incorporated in honey nowadays. The very quality of it effectively bypassing test, make it the first choice of frauds. Although many high-end tests like SMR, TMR & MNR can detect adulteration of rice syrup in honey. High costs and minimal accessibility makes it difficult to detect.
Lab Tests to Check Adulteration of Honey?
1. Fructose-Glucose Ratio
2. Total Reducing Sugars
3. Hydroxymethylfurfunal(HMF) Test
4. Total Energy Value
5. Moisture Test
6. Fiehe’s Test
7. Aniline Chlorine Test
Tips for Selecting Real Honey
1. Try to get honey from a local source of honey
2. Select a reliable brand
3. Never buy an ultra-clear and shiny honey, as natural honey is little hazy
4. Never right away reject crystallized honey (Signs of real honey)
5. Always don’t go with a popular brand.
Conclusions
Since the detection of adulteration of honey is not easy, it widens prospects of fraud in honey manufacturing. The optimum way to get hands-on the best honey is to buy through Aalaa Pure and Raw Honey. The very special quality is that varieties of honey are segregated and collected from sources. Our team of Apiculture experts ensures, we breed the best pure and raw honey for our valued customers.
Buy 100% Raw & Pure Honey with Aalaa.
Thank you for the information regarding the adulteration of honey.