Isotope ratio analysis
The official test for sugar from cane or maize added to honey — and only for that family of syrups.
Chemistry
Definition
Stable carbon isotope ratio analysis (AOAC 998.12) distinguishes sugars from C4 plants — cane and maize — from those of the C3 plants most nectar comes from, using protein from the same honey as the reference. The European Commission's food-fraud centre gives its detection level as C4 sugar at 7% or more. Its known limitation is that rice, beet and wheat are C3 plants, so syrups made from them pass, and syrups engineered to match honey's isotope ratio pass too.
See also
Other chemistry terms
Sources
Sources
- Methods for verifying honey authenticity — European Commission, Joint Research Centre — Knowledge Centre for Food Fraud and Quality (2026) · Regulatory guidance Link
- AOAC Official Method 998.12 — C-4 plant sugars in honey: internal standard stable carbon isotope ratio method — AOAC International, Official Methods of Analysis (1998) · Standards document Link
- Standard for Honey (CXS 12-1981) — Codex Alimentarius Commission, FAO/WHO (1981) · Standards document Link
How sources are selected and weighted is set out in the sources and evidence policy.