How Safe Is Your Honey?

The Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) said that 13 top and some smaller brands in India were selling adulterated honey. It released the report of a study done by it claiming that honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari and Apis Himalaya were found to be adulterated with sugar syrup.

According to the regulations, honey must comply with 18 parameters to be labelled as ‘pure honey’.

The CSE selected 13 top and smaller brands of processed and raw honey being sold in India. All the brands, except Apis Himalaya, passed the tests of purity while a few smaller brands failed the tests to detect C4 sugar, which can be said to be basic adulteration using cane sugar.

NMR test needed for export

However, when the same brands were tested using Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR), that can ascertain the composition of a product at the molecular level, which was done in Germany, only three brands – Saffola, Markfed Sohna and Nature’s Nectar, passed. The NMR test is considered the gold standard for testing the quality of honey.

The NMR test is not required by Indian law for honey being marketed locally but is needed for export. A deeper investigation by CSE found a connection between ‘Honeygate’ and China.

In its study, the CSE mentioned that three primary types of syrups — golden syrup, invert sugar syrup and rice syrup — are being used for adulteration of honey. The CSE said that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had alerted importers and state goods commissioners regarding the adulteration last year.

Despite the warning, such syrups are somehow being imported into the country, suggested the CSE.

Rampant adulteration

Amit Khurana, programme director of CSE’s Food Safety and Toxins team, said that the three imported synthetic sugar syrups named by FSSAI are “either not imported in these names or are not indicted for adulteration”. He claimed that Chinese companies are mostly exporting this syrup as fructose to India.

Khurana also said that they had found that sugar syrups were so designed that they go undetected.

CSE claimed that it tracked down Chinese trade portals like Alibaba which were “advertising fructose syrup that can bypass tests”.

The CSE also claimed that it tracked down Chinese trade portals like Alibaba which were “advertising fructose syrup that can bypass tests”.

“Chinese companies informed the CSE that even if 50-80 per cent of the honey is adulterated with syrup it would pass all stipulated tests. A sample of the syrup that can bypass tests was then sent by the Chinese company as “paint pigment” to get through customs,” the study noted. CSE also tracked down a factory that manufactures syrup for honey adulteration in Jaspur, Uttarakhand.

Trace origin of honey

Commenting on the findings, CSE Director General Sunita Narain, said, “Government should get samples tested using advanced technologies and make this information public so that consumers are aware and our health is not compromised. It will also hold companies responsible. Ensure that every honey company is required to trace back the origins of the honey from the beekeeper to the hive,” Narain added.

Dabur’s denial

Responding to the claims, Dabur rejected findings of the CSE report and said it is the only company in India to have an NMR testing equipment in its own laboratory. Dabur added that the reports “seem motivated and aimed at maligning the brand”. Patanjali and Emami have also questioned the study conducted by CSE.

Responding to their statement, CSE said in a press release issued on Thursday said it stands by its findings.