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Honey Analysis
In Britain alone we consume 25,000 tonnes of honey per year spread on our breakfast toast, as an alternative to sugar in cooking, or as a natural health remedy.
Fera offers a range of analytical services to the honey industry to support the marketing of legitimate labelling claims and help protect the consumer from food threats or fraud.
Manuka honey testing
Because of Manuka honey's unique antimicrobial property, there is great demand for it, and it can command higher retail prices than most other types of honey. With such high stakes, it is essential that consumer confidence in the integrity of the industry is maintained.
Any honey can contain properties that help healing by releasing hydrogen peroxide, but Manuka honey can also contain a non-hydrogen peroxide antimicrobial agent that makes it unique. With the level of this agent varying between Manuka honeys, it is vital that producers and retailers can provide robust evidence to support labelling claims about the activity of their products.
Fera offers the following testing services to confirm antimicrobial activity in Manuka honey. All analyses are fully validated and performed to current industry standards.
- Phenol equivalence testing to verify UMF® rating - Phenol equivalence testing of non-peroxide antimicrobial activity in Manuka honey to confirm that products are true to stated UMF® rating. Fera is the only laboratory in Europe to be appointed by the UMF® Honey Association as an official testing laboratory for independently verifying the UMF® rating of Manuka honey.
- Methylglyoxal analysis - Chemical analysis of methyglyoxal (the main antibacterial agent in Manuka honey).
Additional honey testing services
Fera offers other testing services, listed below, for all types of honey.
- Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) analysis - Analysis of HMF content to detect if honey has undergone excessive heat-treatment during processing or adulteration
- Veterinary drug and pesticide residue analysis - As the National Reference Laboratory for veterinary drug residues Fera conducts the UK Statutory Surveillance program on honey, and is therefore ideally placed to assist with any residue analysis of honey
- Verification of geographical origin - Isotope ratio analysis to confirm that honey is from its stated country or region of origin
Contact us
For more information about our honey analysis services, including prices and turnaround times, please