Isotopic characteristics (δ13C, δ15N, and δ18O) of honey from Bangladesh retail markets: Investigating sugar manipulation, botanical and geographical authentication

Mst Afifa Khatun; Junya Yoshimura; Mitsuru Yoshida; Yaeko Suzuki; Roksana Huque; Simon D Kelly; M Kamruzzaman Munshi

doi:10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137612

Isotopic characteristics (δ¹³C, δ¹⁵N, and δ¹⁸O) of honey from Bangladesh retail markets: Investigating sugar manipulation, botanical and geographical authentication

Food Chem. 2024 Mar 1:435:137612. doi: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137612. Epub 2023 Sep 29.

Authors

Mst Afifa Khatun¹, Junya Yoshimura², Mitsuru Yoshida³, Yaeko Suzuki⁴, Roksana Huque⁵, Simon D Kelly⁶, M Kamruzzaman Munshi⁷

Affiliations

¹ Food Safety and Quality Analysis Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: afifabaec@gmail.com.
² Department of Food Science and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: junya.y0803@gmail.com.
³ Department of Food Science and Technology, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: mitsuru@nvlu.ac.jp.
⁴ Advanced Analysis Center, National Agriculture and Food Research Organization, Tsukuba, Japan. Electronic address: yaekos@affrc.go.jp.
⁵ Food Safety and Quality Analysis Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: roksanahuque@yahoo.com.
⁶ Food Safety & Control Laboratory, Joint FAO/IAEA Centre of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture, International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna International Centre, Wagramer Strasse 5, P.O. Box 100, 1400 Vienna, Austria. Electronic address: S.Kelly@iaea.org.
⁷ Food Safety and Quality Analysis Division, Institute of Food and Radiation Biology, Atomic Energy Research Establishment, Bangladesh Atomic Energy Commission, Dhaka, Bangladesh. Electronic address: kzaman_munshi@yahoo.com.

PMID: 37801765
DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2023.137612

Abstract

The study analyzed stable isotope composition (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen) of Bangladesh origin monofloral and multifloral honey for the first time to identify the C-4plant sugar adulteration, botanical and geographical differentiation. The C-4 sugar content (11.90 to 86.61%) using carbon isotope values of whole honey and protein extractidentified18% adulterated honeys.Whereas 82% honey have been detected as authentic with the δ¹³C ranges from -24.86 to -29.26‰ and the C-4 sugar values ranges from -6.75 to 5.67%. The chemometric approach using carbon and nitrogen isotopesvalues revealed discrimination among floral types of Bangladeshi authentic honeys indicating the influence of botanical source on isotopic composition. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of C and N isotopes showed geographic distinction among Bangladeshi and overseas origin honeys. It is notable that the black seed honeys were correctly classified with the CDA analysis representing this type as unique Bangladesh brand as New Zealand manuka honey.

Keywords: Adulteration; Botanical influence; C-4 sugar; Geographical discrimination; Honey; Stable isotope.

MeSH terms

Bangladesh
Carbohydrates
Carbon
Honey*
Nitrogen
Sugars*

Substances

Sugars
Carbohydrates
Carbon
Nitrogen