Quality of honey in Braničevo and Podunavlje districts

Abstract

The present study was undertaken to determine the physicochemical parameters of honey samples produced in Branicevo and Podunavlje Districts of Republic Serbia. During period 2010- 2012 the total 226 samples were analysed in Institute for Public Health Požarevac for parameters including moisture, acidity, diastase activity, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), invert sugar, sucrose, ash and water-insoluble solids. 4 of 107 (3.7%) floral honey samples were of unacceptable quality based on recommended criteria of diastase activity (2 of 107, 1.9%), HMF (3 of 107, 2.8%) and acidity (1 of 107, 0.9%) by Serbian Regulation on honey quality. Also 1 of 105 (0.01%) acacia honey samples wasn't in accordance with Serbian Legislation because of increased content of HMF and decreased diastase activity. All 8 analysed linden honey and 6 honeydew were found to meet the Serbian Regulations. Total 97.8% of analyzed honey samples are in line with the European and Serbian standards which indicated good quality of honey produced in Branicevo and Podunavlje Districts.

Cilj ovog istraživanja je ispitivanje kvaliteta meda proizvedenog u braničevskom i podunavskom okrugu. U periodu od 2010-2012. godine u Zavodu za javno zdravlje Požarevac analizirano je 226 uzoraka na sadržaj redukujućih šećera, saharoze, sadržaj hidroksimetilfurfurola, aktivnost dijastaze, sadržaj vode, kiselost, mineralnih materija i materija nerastvorljivih u vodi. Rezultati pokazuju da 4 od 107 (3,7%) uzoraka cvetnog meda ne zadovoljava uslove koje propisuje Pravilnik o kvalitetu meda zbog povećanog sadržaja HMF-a u 3 uzorka (2,8%), smanjene aktivnosti dijastaze u 2 uzorka (1,9%), i zbog povećane kiselosti u jednom uzorku (0,9%). Od ukupno 105 uzoraka bagremovog meda, jedan (0.01%) ne ispunjava uslove propisane Pravilnikom zbog smanjene aktivnosti dijastaze i povećanog sadržaja HMF-a. Svih 8 uzoraka lipovog meda i 6 uzoraka medljikovca u skladu su sa zahtevima Pravilnika. Rezultati pokazuju da je od ukupnog broja analiziranih uzoraka 97,8% ispravno, na osnovu čega se može zaključiti da je med proizveden na području braničevskog i podunavskog okruga dobrog kvaliteta.