On honey authentication and adulterant detection techniques

Honey from different botanical and geographical origins differ significantly in their market value due to their quality, flavor or health benefits. However, the high value of honey and increasing demand have motivated fraudulent acts of honey. It is subjected to frequent adulteration by mislabeling, direct or indirect inclusion of cheaper sweeteners or low-quality honey. Honey authentication of geographical and botanical origin and adulteration detection is essential to protect consumers' interests and honey market development. This work provides a comprehensive overview of various techniques including gas chromatography (GC), liquid chroma-tography (LC), nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), infrared spectroscopy (IR), and laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) for both botanical authentication and adulteration detection from 2012 to 2020. We found that hyperspectral imaging (HSI) is more promising for large-scale applications in the honey production industry than other analysis methods, because it is non-invasive, simple to prepare samples, free of chemical agents, and can obtain spatial and spectral data from multiple samples simultaneously.

Automated summary

Honey from different botanical and geographical origins vary in market value due to differences in quality, flavor, and health benefits. However, the high value and demand for honey have led to an increase in fraudulent activities. Authenticating the geographical and botanical origin of honey and detecting adulteration are crucial for protecting consumer interests and promoting honey market development. This study provides an overview of various techniques used for honey authentication and adulteration detection, with hyperspectral imaging showing promise for large-scale applications in the honey production industry.