Stable isotope mass spectrometry in honey analysis

Abstract

Honey is frequently subject to adulteration with relatively cheap high fructose corn syrup. Not only is this a serious consumer fraud but it is a major threat to the apicultural industry. Stable isotope ratio analysis using mass spectrometry may be used to detect honey that has been adulterated with high fructose corn syrup due to the fact that honey, usually from C 3 plants, has a different 13C: 12C ratio than high fructose corn syrup which is a C 4 plant product