Study on few commercially available honey samples and their quality parameters in Mysore City, Karnataka, India

Field-cum-laboratory investigations were made in Mysore city (120 181 N and 760 421 E) by selecting more than twenty places randomly and visited 38 shops/malls to collect the honey samples for their commercial quality parameters assessment by following standard methods. The honey type, brand/certification status, nutritional facts, physical, biochemical parameters and price of honey samples revealed interesting results. Majority (81.6%) of honey samples were available at registered grocery shops/malls with 52.6% certification with fassi (18.4%), Agmark (13.2%), Agmark with fassi (7.9%) and 2.6% each with ISO, Agmark and fassi, USDA and KVIC brands. Highest (94.7%) honey samples were multifloral type. Amongst them, 60.5% have displayed nutritional facts (e.g. carbohydrate, natural sugar, glucose, fructose, sucrose, protein, fat and dietary fiber contents) and only 26.3% honey samples have shown their minerals contents (e.g. sodium (15.8%), calcium (18.4%), potassium (13.3%), iron (21.1%) and phosphorous (10.5%) along with vitamin ‘C’. Besides, natural nutrients, herbal extract, Azardicta indica and permitted colour was also displayed on few honey samples. Altogether, 44.7% honey samples shown energy level per 100 grams and it varied considerably in between 272.46 and 324.08 Kcal. The price per 100 gram of honey did also varied considerably and it was from Rupees 24/- to 266/-. However, laboratory analysis for physical and chemical parameters in the collected honey samples didn’t show significant variation, but it was with acceptable level. Further, variation in their nutritional contents, energy level and price per 100 grams as displayed on honey samples was dissimilar and whether it is on par with the international standards is in question. In this regard, further in depth studies are required. Since, honey is one of the international commodities, being directly used for human consumption and domestic use across the world. Its regular assessment necessitates maintaining quality.