Oligosaccharide profiles of Asian commercial honeys

Abstract

As part of the development of a method to detect honey in imported materials, a database of the oligosaccharide composition of a range of Asian commercial honeys has been prepared. Low maltose contents were detected compared with literature values for honey from Europe, North Africa and South America; with this exception oligosaccharide contents were similar to those in the literature. Moisture contents were slightly high compared with literature values for Europe and North America but comparable with literature values for Asia. Moisture, monosaccharide and sucrose contents were generally within the limits applied by the Codex. Four honeys were apparently adulterated.