Contribution of high temperature gas chromatographic analysis of oligosaccharides and ion chromatographic analysis of various cations and anions to authenticity testing of honey

The analysis of oligosaccharides and various cations and anions of 40 authe ntic honey samples from seven different floral origins and six different ge ographical origins was performed using high temperature gas chromatography and ion chromatography respectively. Multivariate statistical techniques we re employed in order to check the possibility of the use of obtained data f or characterising the botanical and geographical source of honey. Linear di scriminant analysis appeared the most suitable for this purpose. Both metho ds showed a certain potential in determining the samples of different flora l types. Separation of the geographical origin of honey, however, was unsuc cessful and this is likely due to the very large and varied botanical origi ns of honey located within a single geographical region.