Determinação de adulteração de méis comercializados na região de Dois Vizinhos, Paraná

Abstract

Honey is a food product produced by Apis mellifera bees from nectar collected from flowers. Considered one of the purest foods in nature, it is widely recognized for its high nutritional and therapeutic value and is used both as a food and in medicine. Honey is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, minerals, and bioactive compounds, which confer beneficial properties to human health. With the increase in honey consumption and growing consumer concern about acquiring healthy foods, challenges related to product quality and authenticity have emerged for the beekeeping sector. Adulteration is a common fraudulent practice, motivated by attempts to increase profits, and compromises both quality and food safety. The detection of such fraud has become increasingly challenging due to advances in techniques used to manipulate product composition. This study aimed to evaluate possible adulteration in 15 honey samples marketed in the city of Dois Vizinhos, Paraná State, Brazil. For this purpose, hydroxymethylfurfural and furfural contents were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography, and qualitative tests (Lund, Lugol, and Fiehe) were performed. Qualitative analyses were conducted according to the methodology of the Adolfo Lutz Institute. When comparing the results with Brazilian legislation (Normative Instruction No. 11/2000 of the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply) and the Codex Alimentarius Commission standards, it was observed that all samples were within the established limits for HMF content, and furfural values ranged from 0.06 to 0.24 mg/kg. Regarding the qualitative tests, non-compliance rates were 40% for the Fiehe test, 33.33% for the Lund test, and 20% for the Lugol test. Thus, this study demonstrates the importance of quality control for this type of food and the need for continuous inspection to ensure transparency in the beekeeping sector, thereby strengthening the competitiveness of Brazilian honey in the global market.