인천지역에서 유통되는 벌꿀의 품질조사

A total of 60 samples (38 domestic honeys and 22 foreign honeys) were collected from October in 2003 to May in 2004 in Incheon metropolitan area, and contents of important quality-related components in honeys were analyzed using methods of Korea Food Code. Most of the honeys were satisfied with Korean limit (21%) in moisture content even though 4 samples brought by Korean travellers and 1 sample in domestic honey (wild flower) were higher than the limit. The lowest mean level of moisture in the honeys was imported foreign honeys (16.95%). All of the samples were below of 0.6% in the analysis of ash contents. The highest content was imported foreign honey (0.19%) while the lowest content was in domestic acacia honey (0.05%). Acidity of domestic honeys (9.49-9.94meq/kg) was approximately half of that in foreign honeys. All samples were satisfied with Korean limit (40.0meq/kg). In the analysis of fructose and glucose, only three samples of foreign honeys were lower than Korean limit (sum of both ; 65%). The content of sucrose in all samples was less than 7%. Mean of Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) contents were 12.83-24.3mg/kg in domestic honey, and 31.34-45.58mg/kg in foreign honey. However, three samples brought by Korean travellers were not satisfied with Korean limit (<80mg/kg). In conclusion, quality of domestic honey was better than that of foreign honey. Also, it may be needed that the honeys purchased by Korean travellers in foreign countries should be continuously monitored.