Question 1

What is Honey?

Accepted Answer

Honey is a sweet, thick, liquid substance made by bees from the nectar they collect from plants and flowers, which they store in the cells of their honeycombs, varying in color from white to dark brown.

Question 2

How to Determine if Honey is Real?

Accepted Answer

It is impossible to determine if honey is natural by its taste, color, or fluidity. Even a single analysis may not reveal if it is natural. It can only be determined in well-equipped laboratories where all necessary tests are conducted.

Question 3

What are These Analyses?

Accepted Answer

Until high-quality, edible, healthy, and natural honey reaches your table, it undergoes 62 different analyses. The first of these is the test to check if there is commercial glucose in the honey, taken as a sample from each can. Then, analyses to determine the type of honey and its water content are conducted. Natural sugar levels such as Proline, Fructose, Glucose, and Sucrose are checked. These analyses reveal if there have been any external interventions in the honey. Additionally, whether bees have been fed sugar is also identified through these tests. Pollen analysis determines which plants the bees collected pollen from. Findings about the bees are not limited to this. Whether bees have been given antibiotics to protect against diseases is also determined, and it is deemed harmful if antibiotics are administered. It is also analyzed whether pesticides used on plants have transferred to the bees. The honey is checked for contamination from harmful metals from road asphalt, exhaust gases, or cans. Additionally, the presence of semi-heavy metals like Copper, Lead, Zinc, and Cadmium in the honey is determined through analyses.

Question 4

Who Conducts These Analyses? How Long Do They Take?

Accepted Answer

Samples from suppliers are given three days, while honey from beekeepers in cans is given four days. These samples are examined by a team of food engineers, chemists, and chemical and food technicians.

Question 5

What Happens to Honey that Does Not Pass These Analyses?

Accepted Answer

Honey that does not pass the analyses is returned to the beekeeper.

Question 6

Are Only Branded Honeys Analyzed?

Accepted Answer

It would be incorrect to say only branded honeys are analyzed. Because branded honeys do not or cannot conduct all of these analyses. However, unbranded honeys are definitely not analyzed.

Question 7

Is There Any Penalty if Something Beyond the Analysis Results is Found?

Accepted Answer

There is a fine of 11,000 TL. For example, if the HMF analysis (an adverse result from heating honey) is unsuitable, the fine is paid, but the company is not announced.

Question 8

Is Crystallization of Honey Normal?

Accepted Answer

The most common sugars naturally found in honey are glucose and fructose. If the nectar of the plant has a high glucose content, honey will crystallize over time. If the fructose content is high, it can be stored for longer without crystallizing. Crystallization of honey is related to its composition (glucose and water), the presence of particles (pollen, etc.), and storage temperature. Honey does not crystallize below 5°C and above 25°C. The optimal temperature for crystallization is 14°C.

Question 9

What Causes the Color and Consistency of Honey to Change Occasionally?

Accepted Answer

The color of honey varies depending on the flowers the bee visits and the nectar it collects. Its fluidity is related to the early extraction of honey from the hive. Therefore, both color and fluidity can vary within certain limits.

Question 10

Is it True that Honey Sold in the Open is More Natural?

Accepted Answer

Honey sold in the open is not controlled. Since they are not tested in a laboratory environment, you cannot know if open honey contains additives like sugar or antibiotics. Branded honey is required by regulation to undergo all checks. In fact, branded honey provides the most accurate presentation of natural honey through laboratory tests. The honey you consume as open honey presented as ‘natural’ may not be pure natural honey. However, branded honey is released to the market after passing inspections. Open honey may contain antibiotic residues, pesticide residues, or naphthalene. All of these elements can adversely affect human health when consumed. We recommend choosing branded honey for yourself and your child.

Question 11

What are the Differences Between Honeycomb Honey and Filtered Honey in Terms of Health?

Accepted Answer

There is no difference in composition between filtered honey and honeycomb honey. Both have the same nutritional values. Consuming honeycomb honey has no health advantages over filtered honey. However, we do not consider honeycomb honey consumption healthy because filtered honey is obtained from all the combs, creating a homogeneous mixture, and its analyses are controlled. In honeycomb honey, it is technically challenging and even impossible to analyze each comb individually. We recommend consuming honey that has been confirmed to be controlled.

Question 12

What is Cream Honey?

Accepted Answer

Cream honey is developed by controlled crystallization of filtered honey. It is only a physical process and does not change the chemical content of the honey. In terms of properties, cream honey is the same as filtered honey.

Question 13

What are Royal Jelly, Pollen, and Propolis? What are Their Benefits?

Accepted Answer

Royal jelly is an emulsion made by worker bees to feed the queen bee. It has very high nutritional value. It has been found to have cell-repairing and regenerating effects and helps treat skin and hair diseases. Pollen are flower dust that play an important role in the fertilization of plants and the nutrition of bees. It can be used as a supplementary food to accelerate growth and development, especially in children. Propolis is a sticky, organic substance with strong antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal effects, collected by bees from plants, buds, and shoots. It is used to help treat respiratory problems, lip and gum issues, skin treatments, and stomach and intestinal disorders.

Question 14

How to Differentiate Fake Honey from Real Honey?

Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, it is not possible to differentiate by color, taste, and smell. The only way to determine the authenticity of honey is through advanced techniques and analyses.

Question 15

Which Honey is of Higher Quality?

Accepted Answer

Honey derives its quality from being authentic and residue-free. Therefore, no distinction is made among different types of honey.

Question 16

Does Honey Ferment?

Accepted Answer

Yes, there is a possibility of honey fermenting. Yeasts from flower nectars can transfer to the honey, affecting its flavor over time.

Question 17

Does Honey Have an Expiry Date?

Accepted Answer

Honey does not have an expiry date. It does not spoil microbiologically and even eliminates developing microorganisms, making it a non-perishable product. It should only be protected from sunlight and heat, as heat can increase the levels of HMF, a carcinogenic substance.

Question 18

How Should Honey Be Stored?

Accepted Answer

Honey should be stored at room temperature (20-25°C). Storing it in the refrigerator accelerates the crystallization process. It should also be protected from sunlight and heat.

Question 19

Can Diabetics Consume Honey?

Accepted Answer

Diabetics should consume honey under the guidance and control of their doctors.

Question 20

Why is it Not Recommended to Feed Honey to Infants Younger than 12 Months?

Accepted Answer

It is not recommended due to infant botulism. Botulism is a serious illness caused by the bacteria Clostridium Botulinum proliferating in the gastrointestinal organs. Infants’ digestive systems are sensitive to this bacteria, but they develop resistance after one year of age. Therefore, honey is not recommended in infant feeding.

Question 21

How Much Honey Should a Person Consume Daily?

Accepted Answer

One should consume an average of 1 gram of honey per kilogram of body weight daily. For example, children should consume 20 grams, which is 1.5 tablespoons or 3 teaspoons of honey per day.

Question 22

Is There Any Harm in Consuming Honey in Summer?

Accepted Answer

There is no harm in consuming honey in summer. It should be consumed at all times for good health.

Question 23

Is Honey Nutritionally Rich?

Accepted Answer

A tablespoon of honey contains 64 calories. Since honey does not contain fat, it is suitable for diets that are low in fat or fat-free.