November-December 2003

• We tested 17 brands of honey from across the country and 2 loose samples, L1, L2 from Ahmedabad. The brands tested were Amrut, Baidyanath, Brij, Dabur, Dhanvantari, Himalayan, Hyness,Indian, KVIC Cochin, KVIC Mumbai,Madh Sagar, Madhur, Mehsons, Pushp, Samskrithamadhu, reejee andSh West Bengal Bee Keeper’s Association (WBBKA).

• The brands were tested against the Prevention of Food Adulteration (PFA) Act, the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) and the Agricultural Produce Grading and Marking Act (Agmark). Results were compared against the international standard, Codex Alimentarius. The PFA Act is mandatory.

• High sucrose content indicates artificial feeding of bees with sugar solution or adulteration of honey with sugar solution. Shreejee (9.1), Indian (11.4), Madhur (13.1) and L1 (9.9) did not conform to the parameter, i.e. a maximum limit of 5 per cent sucrose content.

• Commercial invert sugar is also used as an adulterant. L2 showed positive, indicating adulteration.

• Presence of high hydroxy methyl furfural (HMF) indicates poor quality. Either the honey was exposed to heat or storage conditions were poor. The PFA Act, the IS and Codex require HMF to be not more than 80 mg per kg. Amrut (82), Baidyanath (191), Brij (145), Himalayan (396), KVIC Cochin (240), KVIC Mumbai (311), Madh Sagar (138), Madhur (316), Pushp (148), Shreejee (93), L1 (385) and L2 (654) showed poor quality.

• The test for acidity tells us whether honey is spoilt due to fermentation. L2 (0.3 per cent) did not conform to the requirements in India of 0.2.

• With a low fructose-glucose ratio, honey forms granules or crystals faster instead of retaining its fluidity. Madhur(098) did not conform to the IS which requires a ratio of not less than 1.

• The samples gave energy in the range of 284 to 315 kilocalories per 100 gm of honey.

• WBBKA, Madhur and Samskrithamadhu did not mention the best before date. The WBBKA did not carry a label on the bottle. So date of packing, best before date, lot number and net weight were missing. Agmark brands, Dhanvantari and Himalayan did not mention the grade of honey on the label.

• One sample each of Brij, Himalayan, KVIC Cochin and Madhur gave weight less than the minimum permissible limit as per the Standards of Weights & measures (Pack-aged Commodities) Rules, 1977.

• Dabur scored the highest in flavour and after-taste. Mehsons was the best in clarity, followed by Dabur.

• Dabur (82) scored the highest in sensory tests, followed by Mehsons (81) and Baidyanath (78).

• Dabur scored the highest in the lab tests too, with 83. Mehsons and Hyness followed with 71.

• Dabur is our best buy.

 

Details of the test report can be had in INSIGHT

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