In 2024, Russia’s National Quality System (Роскачество) and the Federal Veterinary and Phytosanitary Supervision Service (Rosselkhoznadzor) have released their honey quality inspection results, shedding light on the authenticity and safety of honey products in the Russian market. This article delves into the findings of these two authoritative bodies, highlighting the key issues and their implications for consumers and producers alike.
Роскачество’s Honey Quality Inspection Results (August 1, 2024)
- Compliance with GOST Standards: The inspection covered 16 branded packaged honeys, focusing on 14 indicators such as labeling, sugar content, and proline levels. A significant finding was the non-compliance with the Russian National Standards (GOST) for the ratio of fructose to glucose. According to GOST 19792 and GOST 31766, this ratio must be at least 1.05, indicating the absence of added fructose-glucose syrup. Disappointingly, 11 products failed to meet this GOST requirement.
- Proline Content: Another critical parameter, proline content, which must be at least 180mg/kg in natural honey as per GOST 19792-2017, was also found to be substandard in 6 products.
- Diastase Activity: The inspection also revealed discrepancies in diastase values, with 10 products showing values that did not align with the characteristics of natural honey or the declared type of honey, as stipulated by GOST 19792 and 31766.
- Pollen Grain Content: The GOST regulations dictate the pollen grain content for monofloral honeys, such as chestnut, linden, and sunflower. However, 12 products were found to be mislabeled, not matching the honey type declared on their packaging.
- Technical Regulation Violations: The presence of hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) in honey, a substance formed during the degradation of sugars, was another area of concern. While GOST allows a maximum of 25mg/kg HMF, 5 honey samples were found to be turbid, preventing the determination of this indicator—a sign of honey dilution and a violation of technical regulations.
Rosselkhoznadzor’s Honey Quality Inspection Results (October 31, 2024)
- Antibiotic Residues: Between January and October 2024, Rosselkhoznadzor conducted 1237 tests on 54 batches of eight types of honey, totaling over 587.5 tons. Three positive results were identified in batches weighing 13.4 tons. Notably, residues of the antibiotic difloxacin were found in a batch of honey weighing 8.9 tons, and metronidazole was detected in a batch of natural buckwheat honey.
- Botanical Origin Indicators: The third case involved a 4.5-ton batch of natural linden honey that did not meet the indicators for determining the botanical origin of honey. The pollen content was below the standard value, indicating that the honey was not pure linden honey.
The findings from Роскачество and Rosselkhoznadzor underscore the pressing need for stringent quality control in the Russian honey industry. The detection of substandard products, mislabeling, and the presence of antibiotics and other contaminants pose significant risks to consumer health and the reputation of the industry. As of September 1, 2024, amendments to the Russian Apiculture Law have taken effect, prohibiting the labeling of products with added fructose-glucose syrup as honey. These measures, along with continued vigilance and enforcement by regulatory bodies, are crucial steps towards ensuring the quality and authenticity of honey products available to consumers.
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