In June we had written about testing the purity of honey and later about how the regulator is trying to tighten the norms to check on adulteration. The recent report by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) titled “Study on Adulteration in Honey” clearly highlights the problem at large.
CSE tested samples from 13 brands available in the market in different phases . Testing was done against the parameters set by the FSSAI. C4/C3 sugars, foreign oligosaccharides, Specific Marker for Rice (SMR) i.e. 2-acetylfuran-3-glucopyranoside (AFGP) which are the parameters specified by FSSAI. Although not part of the FSSAI’s requirements yet, Trace Marker for Rice syrup (TMR) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) profiling was also done for these samples.
Around 77% of these samples were found to be adulterated. Most of the brands failed the NMR profiling. FSSAI has since clarified that most of the countries around the world do not use NMR. However, around 6 of them failed the TMR profiling which the FSSAI had intended to make it mandatory in the July 31st, 2018 draft regulation but then withdrew.
As we highlighted in our above mentioned article the FSSAI did try to include TMR profiling as one of the mandatory parameter for honey testing, but gave in to the industry pressure. Hope these kind of studies help in bringing in the tighter norms and compliance requirements.
To hear the CSE’s perspective of the report, you can join the the free webinar with their team of CSE’s honey investigators, who will share all they know about honey, what it really contains, and why they think the Indian consumer being short changed in this manner.
Please register at – https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_TlMnIiQYQLGPhjb2xAd0Og
Webinar Time: Dec 4, 2020 04:00 PM in India
