Authenticity Testing: Detection of Sugar Additions to Honey – New Analytical Method
The Intertek Food Services laboratory in Bremen,Germany, is one of the most recognised laboratories for authenticity and quality testing of honey worldwide. During the last two years the laboratory has analysed around 15,000 honey samples to detect sugar additions.
The consumer considers honey to be a pure natural product and part of a balanced diet. In order to protect the consumers from fraud, the authenticity testing of honey plays an important role.
The Intertek Food Services laboratory in Bremen recently developed a new analytical method for beta- and gamma-amylase to extend their existing scope of honey authenticity testing. This method determines a foreign enzyme to ensure the detection of sugar additions with enzymatically produced invert sugar syrups at reasonable levels. In combination with the foreign enzyme analysis for beta-fructofuranosidase the invertase enzymes of invert sugar syrups which do not naturally occur in honey are detected.
In addition to the two foreign enzyme tests, Intertek Food Services offers the stable carbon isotope ratio analysis (13C EA/LC-IRMS) to detect the addition of C3 and C4 sugars to honey. This complementary method is needed for sugar syrups which do not contain any foreign enzymes.
The accredited and validated analytical methods of the lab in Bremen are the first ones which are internationally accepted and make an important contribution to the authenticity testing of honey. 
For enquiries, please contact:
Intertek Food Services GmbH
Olof-Palme-Str. 8
28719 Bremen, Germany
Tel.: +49 421 65727 1
Fax: +49 421 65727 222
E-mail: foodtesting@intertek.com