In recent years, fake honey has increasingly made its way into the European market — and the numbers are alarming. A recent inspection by the Active Consumers organization revealed that 5 out of 10 tested honey brands failed to meet basic quality standards. These include:
- Water content: Must be below 20%
- Electrical conductivity: Should not exceed 0.8 mS/cm
- Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF): No more than 40 mg/kg
- Diastase activity: At least 8 Gote units
- Proline content: No less than 180 mg/kg
The Final Verdict
Unfortunately, no home test can reliably confirm if your honey is 100% pure. This is why honey is one of the top three most adulterated foods, alongside milk and olive oil. Counterfeits are becoming more sophisticated — even looking and tasting like the real deal.
The only way to be sure? Laboratory testing.