CLASSIFICATION OF COMMERCIAL HONEYS IN VE NEZUELA

Commercial honeys were analysed to study their quality in the Venezuel an market and were grouped in progressive classes according to their o rganoleptical and physico-chemical characteristics. For that purpose, 500 honey samples were collected in 1985-1987 in different locations o f Venezuela. By sensorial evaluation, 13.4% of the samples were recogn ized as honey frauds and 86.6% as genuine honey. The analytical result s were compared with the standards established in the Venezuelan regul ation for honey (COVENIN 2191-84), and 59.8% of the genuine honeys wer e found to be altered because they failed to fulfil the requirement fo r moisture content (39.8%), reducing sugars (11.2%), sucrose (17.4%), ash (31.7%), total acidity (25.5%), hydroximethylfurfural (43.2%) and diastase (34.0%). Honey frauds never fulfiled the requirements for hyd roximethyfurfural and diastase. The high values found for acidity and ash content in genuine honeys with only one altered characteristic, re veal the need to review the established requirements in the national r egulation for honey. It is suggested to use the nitrogen content of ho ney to detect honey frauds in Venezuela.