Physicochemical characterization and adulteration detection of selected commercial and natural honeys from Zambia and Botswana

摘要

Three commercial and three natural honeys from Zambia and Botswana were analyzedfor selected physicochemical parameters using analytical methods prescribedby the International Honey Commission. The parameters were specific conductivity,moisture/ash contents, pH, acidity by titration to pH 8.3, sucrose, fructose, andglucose. Multivariate statistical evaluation of the physicochemical data using partialleast squares was used to classify the honeys according to their geographicaland floral origins. Sugars were analyzed using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy(FTIR) in which validation of the methods employed gave limits of detection(LODs) that ranged between 3.4 and 8.8 g/100 honey and correlation coefficientsthat ranged between 0.9779 and 0.9865. The concentration ranges for the sugarswere (g/100 g honey) sucrose (ND − 10.4), fructose (22.4–28.4),and glucose (29.3–49.2).Overall, none of the honeys examined showed signs of adulteration with thethree sugars. These data are lacking in many African countries, which are emergingas honey production giants.