Possible complementary packaging label in honey based on the correlations of antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and effective acidity, in light of the F.O.P. index using mathematical modelling

In an effort to (1) describe the correlations between antioxidant activity, total phenolic content, and effective acidity in honey and (2) set the questioning of using additional parameters in the EU Council directive relating to honey botanical and geographical origin determination, 60 honey samples of different botanical origin (citrus, fir, oak, pine, and thyme) were subjected to analyses. The antioxidant activity and total phenolic content were measured using the DPPH and Folin–Ciocalteu colorimetric assays, while the effective acidity was measured on the basis of official electro-chemical methodology. Results showed that there was a positive correlation between the three determined parameters using Pearson and Bayesian correlation statistics, whereas the pH of honeydew honeys (fir, oak, and pine) (F.O.P.), followed a linear trend when plotted graphically versus the %DPPH inhibition. The implementation of multivariate statistics (MANOVA/LDA) differentiated honey samples satisfactorily according to botanical origin (correct classification rate of 80%). The discrimination rate was almost perfect (98.3%) when honey samples were grouped as blossom and honeydew. Further evaluation of data was accomplished using bootstrap analysis. New trends in honey authentication are described in the resent study, setting the questioning for a complementary packaging label based only on three routinely measured parameters.