Honey Quality, Methods of Analysis and International Regulatory Standards: Review of the Work of the International Honey Commission

摘要

International honey standards are specified in a European Honey Directive and in the Codex Alimentarius Standard for Honey, both of which are presently under revision. In this paper the present knowledge on the different quality criteria and on the methods used for their determination is reviewed. The standard drafts, mentio- ned above include standards and methods for the determination of the following quality factors: moisture, ash, acidity, hydroxymethylfurfural, apparent reducing sugars, apparent sucrose, diastase activity and water-insoluble matter.