Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A comprehensive analysis of 13C isotope ratios data of authentic honey types produced in China using the EA-IRMS and LC-IRMS

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Journal of Food Science and Technology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

In the current study, we have comprehensively analyzed different kinds of pure honey which was produced in various areas in China according to δ13C-EA -IRMS (AOAC method 998.12) and δ13C-LC-IRMS (proposed by the Intertek laboratory in Europe) methods. As for the δ13C-EA -IRMS method, the study was confirmed that the C4 sugar of all authentic honey samples was qualified. Further inter-laboratory comparison experiments using the δ13C-LC-IRMS method found that all authentic honey samples had Δδ13C (‰) values within the naturally occurring range of ± 1‰ for Δδ13C (‰) fru-glu. However, about 70% samples had Δδ13C (‰) values outside the range of ± 2.1‰ for Δδ13C (‰) max., indicating that a large proportion of pure honey in China can’t pass the δ13C-LC-IRMS test, although these honeys were extracted from unadulterated sources. Based on the present findings, we consider that the δ13C-LC-IRMS method is not appropriate to reliably detect adulterated honeys with C3 sugars in China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AOAC (2000) Official methods of analysis. AOAC International, Gaithersburg, MD

    Google Scholar 

  • Bertelli D, Lolli M, Papotti G, Bortolotti L, Serra G, Plessi M (2010) Detection of honey adulteration by sugar syrups using one-dimensional and two-dimensional high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance. J Agric Food Chem 58:8495–8501. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf101460t

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Cabanero AI, Recio JL, Ruperez M (2006) Liquid chromatography coupled to isotope ratio mass spectrometry: a new perspective on honey adulteration detection. J Agric Food Chem 54:9719–9727. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf062067x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Carbohydrates and the sweetness of honey (2010) National Honey Board, 303, 776–2337, 1–4. www.nhb.org

  • Cordella C, Militao JSLT, Climent MC, Drajnudel P, Carbol-Bass D (2005) Detection and quantification of honey adulteration via direct incorporation of sugar syrups or bee-feeding: preliminary study using high-performance anion exchange chromatography with pulsed amperometric detection (HPAEC-PAD) and chemometrics. Anal Chim Acta 531:239–248. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.aca.2004.10.018

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Du B, Wu LM, Xue XF, Chen LZ, Li Y, Zhao J, Cao W (2015) Rapid screening of multiclass syrup adulterants in honey by ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography/quadrupole time of flight mass spectrometry. J Agric Food Chem 63:6614–6623. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jafc.5b01410

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Elflein L, Raezke KP (2008) Improved detection of honey adulteration by measuring differences between 13C/12C stable carbon isotope ratios of protein and sugar compounds with a combination of elemental analyzer—isotope ratio mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography—isotope ratio mass spectrometry (δ13C-EA/LC-IRMS). Apidologie 39:574–587. https://doi.org/10.1051/apido:2008042

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Földahzi G (1994) Analysis and quantification of sugars in honey of different botanical origin using high performance liquid chromatography. Acta Aliment 23:299–311

    Google Scholar 

  • Karabagias IK, Casiello G, Kontakos S, Louppis AP, Longobardi F, Kontominas MG (2016) Investigating the impact of botanical origin and harvesting period on carbon stable isotope ratio values (13C/12C) and different parameter analysis of Greek unifloral honeys: a chemometric approach for correct botanical discrimination. Int J Food Sci Technol 51:2460–2467. https://doi.org/10.1111/ijfs.13227

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kelly JD, Petisco C, Downey G (2006) Application of Fourier transform midinfrared spectroscopy to the discrimination between Irish artisanal honey and such honey adulterated with various sugar syrups. J Agric Food Chem 54:6166–6171. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf0613785

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • National Standard of the People’s Republic of China (2002) Method for the determination of high fructose starch syrup in honey-thin layer chromatographic method. GB/T 18932.2-2002

  • Oroian M, Ropciuc S, Paduret S (2018) Honey adulteration detection using raman spectroscopy. Food Anal Methods 11:959–968. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12161-017-1072-2

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Padovan GJ, De Jong D, Rodrigues LP, Marchini JS (2003) Detection of adulteration of commercial honey samples by the 13C/12C isotopic ratio. Food Chem 82:633–636. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(02)00504-6

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Padovan GJ, Rodrigues LP, Leme IA, Jong David D, Marchini JS (2007) Presence of C4 sugars in honey samples detected by the carbon isotope ratio measured by IRMS. Eurasian J Anal Chem 2:134–141

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pang GF, Fan CL, Cao YZ, Zhang JJ, Li XM, Li ZY, Jia GQ (2006) Study on distribution pattern of stable carbon isotope ratio of Chinese honeys by isotope ratio mass spectrometry. J Sci Food Agric 86:315–319. https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.2328

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Matute AI, Soria AC, Martinez-Castro I, Sanz MLA (2007) A new methodology based on GC–MS to detect honey adulteration with commercial syrups. J Agric Food Chem 55:7264–7269. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf070559j

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Ruiz-Matute AI, Weiss M, Sammataro D, Finley J, Sanz ML (2010) Carbohydrate composition of high fructose corn syrups (HFCS) used for bee feeding effect on honey composition. J Agric Food Chem 58:7317–7322. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf100758x

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Simsek A, Bilsel M, Goren AC (2012) 13C/12C pattern of honey from Turkey and determination of adulteration in commercially available honey samples using EA-IRMS. Food Chem 130:1115–1121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodchem.2011.08.017

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wang JP, Guo J, Chen Y, Wang HY, Li R, Wang YL (2011) Assay of beta- fructofuranosidase activity in honey by high performance liquid chromatography. J Bee 12:21–23

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Xu JZ, Liu XH, Wang YJ, Wang ZC, Zhou PP, Liu HD (2013) A method to fast detect the marker in beet syrup adulterated in honey. ZL 2013107003474.8

  • Xue XF, Wang Q, Li Y, Wu LM, Chen LZ, Zhao J, Liu FM (2013) 2-Acetylfuran-3-glucopyranoside as a novel marker for the detection of honey adulterated with rice syrup. J Agric Food Chem 61:7488–7493. https://doi.org/10.1021/jf401912u

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This research project was supported by the by the Jiangxi provincial Natural Science Foundation for Youths of China (20161BAB213096).

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. SinoUnison Technology Co. Ltd, No. 10 Xinghuo Road, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    JinZhong Xu

  2. Jiangxi Science and Technology Normal University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, People’s Republic of China

    Xiuhong Liu

  3. Nanjing Customs Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center, Nanjing, People’s Republic of China

    Bin Wu

  4. Qinhuangdao Customs Animal, Plant and Food Inspection Center, Qinhuangdao, Hebei, People’s Republic of China

    YanZhong Cao

Authors
  1. JinZhong Xu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Xiuhong Liu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bin Wu
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. YanZhong Cao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to JinZhong Xu.

Ethics declarations

Conflict of interest

The author declares that they have no conflict of interest.

Additional information

Publisher's Note

Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Xu, J., Liu, X., Wu, B. et al. A comprehensive analysis of 13C isotope ratios data of authentic honey types produced in China using the EA-IRMS and LC-IRMS. J Food Sci Technol 57, 1216–1232 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04153-2

Download citation

  • Revised:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13197-019-04153-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation