Physicochemical quality control of bee honeysfrom Campos Gerais region of Paraná: Brazil

ABSTRACT

Bee (Apis mellifera L.) honeys have been widely used for therapeutic and nutritional proposes. For evaluating the honey production, physicochemical approaches have been extensively performed to ensure that this hive product is authentic in respect to the legal requirements. The aim of this paper was to discuss the quality control of 93 samples of honey from Campos Gerais region of Paraná State – South Brazil by physicochemical parameters. Moisture, reducing sugars, sucrose, water-insoluble solids, ash, free acidity, pH, activity of diastase, hydroxymethylfurfural content and colour were performed by the standard usual methods. Samples were also classified in floral honeys or honeydew honeys according to the Kirkwood equation. A total of 71 samples (76.34%) showed values in accordance with the Brazilian legal requirements for all the achieved physicochemical parameters. Otherwise, all the studied honeys were likewise within the legislation limits only for water-insoluble solids and colour. For pH, an additional parameter that has not been provided in honey legislation, samples showed values ranging from 3.60 to 5.35. By the Kirkwood equation, 61 honeys were considered as floral products.