Lynne Ingram is a serene presence as she manages a row of buzzing beehives in a verdant corner of Somerset, southwest England.
Despite her calm demeanor, the veteran beekeeper of over 40 years is engaged in a battle against a formidable and ever-changing enemy — honey counterfeiters.
The act of adulterating honey is a well-known practice, with additives like ash and potato flour historically used for this purpose.
However, recent technological and scientific advancements have made it easier to deceive authenticity tests, with the use of “bespoke, designer, or bioengineered” syrups as diluting agents, according to Ingram.
In response to this threat, she established the UK Honey Authenticity Network (HAN UK) in 2021 to educate the public about natural honey and raise awareness about the dangers posed by fraud.
“One of the consequences we are witnessing globally is beekeepers going out of business,” she stated.
Counterfeit honey can be sold to retailers at a fraction of the cost genuine producers can afford.
In addition to producing their own honey, many large-scale beekeepers have crop pollination contracts with farmers, delivering thousands of colonies to growers across the country.
If they are forced out of business due to unfair competition, this essential natural method of crop pollination is compromised, leading to a decrease in food production.
The British Beekeepers Association, representing over 25,000 producers and where Ingram serves as a honey ambassador, advocates for the recognition of the risks of fraud to safeguard the industry and consumers.
“I would like to see an acknowledgment that there is indeed an issue here,” she emphasized.
– Improved Labeling –
In May, the European Union updated its honey regulations to ensure clearer labeling of products and implement a “honey traceability system” to enhance transparency.
For blended honeys, the labels now require all countries of origin to be listed near the product’s name, compared to the previous requirement of indicating whether blending had occurred.
Labeling regulations in the UK, which has exited the EU, are less strict, leading Ingram to believe that consumers are being misled by vague packaging.
The EU’s actions were prompted by a rise in adulterated honey entering the 27-nation bloc.
Substandard adulterants can have negative health effects on consumers, such as increasing the risk of diabetes, obesity, and liver or kidney damage.
Between 2021 and 2022, 46% of the honey tested upon entry into the EU raised suspicions of potential fraud, up from 14% in the period from 2015 to 2017.
Of the dubious shipments, 74% originated from China.
Honey imported from the UK had a 100% suspicion rate.
The EU suggested that this honey was likely produced in third countries, blended in the UK, and then exported to the bloc.
The UK is the second-largest honey importer by volume in Europe, with China being its top supplier.
However, not all imported honey leaves the UK, as significant quantities remain on the domestic market.
“We believe there is a considerable amount of adulterated honey on the shelves,” Ingram remarked, noting its widespread availability in major supermarkets.
– Laser Technology –
Within a research laboratory at Aston University in Birmingham, central England, scientists and beekeepers, including Ingram, are leveraging cutting-edge technology to combat honey fraud.
Using a technique known as Fluorescence Excitation-Emission Spectroscopy (FLE), researchers are able to analyze honey samples at the molecular level by sending lasers into the samples.
The emitted light frequencies are then compiled into a three-dimensional image, or “molecular fingerprint,” of the tested honey.
Alex Rozhin, the project lead and a nanotechnology reader, explained that the test can identify different molecules in the spectrum, confirming the presence of specific biochemicals.
By using FLE, the researchers can detect instances of fraud within honey samples, distinguishing between natural honey and syrup based on their spectral bands.
Rozhin stated that FLE offers greater accuracy compared to existing tests, providing faster results at a lower cost without requiring highly trained personnel.
One of the objectives of the Aston team is to develop a simplified version of FLE that can be used by honey producers or consumers with basic equipment or even a smartphone in the future.
Implementing this test would also expedite the creation of a honey database that could be used through machine learning as a catalog of biometric signatures.
“If we receive a new sample that has been tampered with and deviates from the existing database, we will be alerted to potential fraud,” explained Steven Daniels, an Aston research associate specializing in machine learning.
Ingram suggested that this test could establish a unified standard for testing methods globally, but emphasized the need for government oversight in the sector.
“It is crucial that we address this issue,” she emphasized.
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