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

Abstract

Three commercial and three natural honeys from Zambia and Botswana were analyzed for selected physicochemical parameters using analytical methods prescribed by the International Honey Commission. The parameters were specific conductivity, moisture/ash contents, pH, acidity by titration to pH 8.3, sucrose, fructose, and glucose. Multivariate statistical evaluation of the physicochemical data using partial least squares was used to classify the honeys according to their geographical and 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 coefficients that ranged between 0.9779 and 0.9865. The concentration ranges for the sugars were (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 the three sugars. These data are lacking in many African countries, which are emerging as honey production giants. Practical applications We report physicochemical properties of selected raw natural and commercial honeys from Zambia and Botswana using the International Honey Commission guidelines. This is a prelude to database creation to protect apiarists from fraud in honey trade in many African countries emerging as giant honey producers and is to the best of our knowledge the first such report in the Southern African Development Community region.