In recent years, fake honey has increasingly made its way into the European market — and the numbers are alarming. A recent inspection by the Active Consumers organization revealed that 5 out of 10 tested honey brands failed to meet basic quality standards. These include:
Water content: Must be below 20%
Electrical conductivity: Should not exceed 0.8 mS/cm
Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF): No more than 40 mg/kg
Diastase activity: At least 8 Gote units
Proline content: No less than 180 mg/kg
Fake Honey is Flooding The Market — Here’s How To Spot The Real Thing
How Is Honey Being Faked?
There are two common ways honey is adulterated:
Dilution with glucose-fructose syrup – This boosts volume and cuts production costs.
Premature harvesting – Removing honey from the hive too early increases production speed but results in higher water content and lower quality.
In both cases, what ends up on store shelves doesn’t meet the standards of natural honey.
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