3 of 4 honey brands in PH fake, says study

Results of the study were presented by the PNRI the other day included in this season's Philippine Nuclear Research and Development Conference.

"Adulterated honey takes up 75 percent to 86.5 percent of the local market," claimed Angel Bautista VII of those PNRI because he presented the outcome.

Researchers from the Department of Science and Technology's Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (PNRI) have found that at least three-four soda brands being sold in the Philippines are not pure or so are wholly fake.

The questionable honey products included or were nearly fully low-cost syrups produced from sugarcane and corn,'' they said, mentioning evaluations employing the internal standard stable carbon isotope ratio analysis (Iscira).

Corn, sugarcane sources

True honey should enroll similar carbon 13 values of its mass honey and protein.

forty-one of those 5-7 honey brands bought from the"physical" stores, which were bought, were shown to be accurate.  However, of those rest 16, 1-2 who were made in the Philippines were found to be adulterated with C4 sugars.

A number of 131 honey brands were tested--5-7 bought from stores, supermarkets, and souvenir shops; and 74 bought on online buying platforms.

The study team used that the Iscira to trace honey adulteration with sugars out of C4 plants, such as wheat and sugar cane, taking a look at the gap of carbon-13 isotope signatures between majority honey (that will be mostly sugar) and its own particular internal protein (which comes from the nectar, pollen, and enzymes of bees).

 

Philippine-made

"The thing is that individuals are being tricked," he explained.  "You could be buying honey for its wonderful health benefits but as a result of adulteration, you will actually you should be buying pure sugar.  Consuming too high blood sugar can lead to harmful health effects."

Worse, 62 out of the 76 local honey brands bought physically and online were found to be 95 percent C4 sugar .  "so that they are not actually adulterated, however, they are just completely purely sugar syrup," Bautista said.

"If we simply release the titles of these organizations, they may stop for some time. 

Studies indicate that the intake of c-4 sugar, particularly high-fructose corn syrup, is involved with prevalent cardiovascular disease and arthritis.

Among the 74 honey brands--all of which suggested being made in the Philippines--bought online, 64 or 86.5 percent were found to be mixed with C4 sugars.

The investigators failed to disclose the names of the brands utilized to contain adulterated honey.

National standard

The national standard for honey, which was updated in 2016, simply requires an analysis for moisture, sugar, and also water-insoluble solids contents.

Any substance put into honey has to be declared on the label.  The geographic location where the honey has been recorded needs to really be written on the label.

An analysis by the Honey Authenticity Project, an institution of activists and industry associates, has estimated that one-fifth of honey has been sold worldwide are fake or adulterated. Read more

The PNRI study affirmed that the global problem of"honey laundering," related to this largescale and adulteration of honey, was likewise contained in the Philippines.

Pulling down prices

 They recommended the usage of Iscira in specialized processes along with Philippine National Standards for honey.

Without a more complicated system of analysis, consumers have devised methods to differentiate fake from honey.  However, Bautista cautioned that these might not be clubbed.

He also noted that the elevated incidence of honey can pull down the prices of honey on the market since these could possibly be sold for as low as one-third of the price tag on honey.

"Picture incomes that are supposed to be for the fair beekeepers and honey manufacturers are now being lost due to adulteration and fraud.  This affects our local honey industry so badly we estimate they are losing around P200 million each year," he explained.

"When we incorporate these isotope-based standards in our regulatory system and the Philippine National Standards, then we presume it's going to soon be a long-lasting remedy to this problem," Bautista said.

Moisture content

Moisture content may also be affected by external factors, such as the climate of this place where it is sourced.

A popular technique is referred to as the"water evaluation," in which a tsp of honey is put into a glass of water.  Fake or adulterated honey can dissolve, whereas pure honey will settle at the base of the glass as lumps.

"When we do that, we're only analyzing its moisture content.  Sometimes, it works, but honey features a selection of moisture to be considered authentic," Bautista said.

Foolproof method

"However, the problem is if the main one faking it is quite knowledgeable or is very proficient, they could also fix the moisture level of their imitation honey to mimic that of true honey's.  So when he does that, it is going to pass the water evaluation procedure, although it's bogus," Bautista said.

"It is very tough to reproduce, it's hard to fake, it's more reliable than the other evaluations," Bautista said.  INQ

Iscira is a friendlier way of screening honey,'' he said.  The carbon 13 signature is similar to a fingerprint of honey, he also noticed.  Additionally, it can vary depending upon the geology and climate of the location where it had been recorded the plant where the bees receive its own buds and even the species of bees that produced the honey.