QUALITY EVALUATION OF UNIFLORAL AND MULTIFLORAL HONEYS FROM SLOVAKIA AND OTHER COUNTRIES

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the blossom honey samples divided into the three groups: acacia (Robinia psedoacacia) honeys (n=14), other unifloral honeys (clover Trifolium pratense, lime Tilia cordata, rape Brassica napus, buckwheat Fagopyrum esculentum, chestnut Castanea sativa; n=8) and multifloral honeys (n=16). We tested the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of honeys. Followed physico-chemical parameters were tested: water, water content, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), pH, free acidity and diastase. From microbiological parameters, we found total plate count (TPC), TPC of anaerobic microorganisms, counts of coliform bacteria, sporulating bacteria and microscopic fungi in the honey samples using dilution plating method. Water content ranged from 13.60 to 21.90 g 100g-1 and two samples of multifloral honeys exceeded the limit value for water content (max 20.00 g 100g-1). HMF ranged from 0.77 to 10.93 mg kg-1 that is typical for fresh and heat-untreated honeys. Average values of pH were 5.02 ± 0.25 for acacia honey, 4.98 ± 0.31 for other unifloral honeys and 4.66 ± 0.45 for multifloral honeys. One sample of multifloral honeys exceeded the limit value for free acidity (max 50 meq kg-1). Higher TPC (above 2.00 log CFU g-1) was detected in 2 out of 14 acacia honeys (14.29%), in 2 out of 8 other unifloral honeys (25.00%) and in 5 out of 16 multifloral honeys (31.25%). Microscopic fungi were not found in 3 acacia honeys (21.43%), 2 other unifloral honeys (25.00%) and 2 multifloral honeys (12.50%). Overall, the obtained results showed good quality of evaluated honeys.