The adoption of Philippine National Standards (PNS) on Honey — Product Standard — Specifications (PNS/BAFS 185:2022) has provided a milestone to the honey industry, which set of guidelines and parameters to interested parties helping distinguish pure honey from adulterated products.

One of the key challenges in the honey industry is adulteration of honey by mixing it with sugar cane or corn syrup compromising its quality and misleading the consuming public. The Department of Science and Technology-Philippine Nuclear Research Institute (DOST-PNRI) conducted a study which used stable carbon isotope ratio analysis to detect such adulteration. The stable carbon isotope ratio analysis is a nuclear-based technique that identifies the unique isotopic “fingerprints” of authentic honey versus the commonly used adulterants such as sugar cane and corn syrup. Authentic honey comes from C3 plants (such as nectar-producing flowers), which have a carbon isotope fingerprint ranging from -33% to -22%. while sugar cane and corn syrups originate from C4 plants, which have a δ¹³C value between -16‰ to -8‰. Through the analysis of these isotope fingerprints, the purity of honey can be determined, protecting both the consumers and producers from fraudulent claims.

In collaboration with the DOST-PNRI, Bureau of Animal Industry, Apimondia Regional Commission for Asia, academe and industry representatives, the said technique was officially adopted in PNS/BAFS 185:2022. Further, FEATR, a platform dedicated to showcasing Filipino agriculture and sustainable practices, has featured the importance of honey quality standards and the role of carbon isotope analysis in ensuring authenticity, raising public awareness and appreciation of this endeavor. WIth these mainstreaming efforts, we are confident that we are moving closer to a future where every sweet drop of Philippine honey is pure, traceable, and proudly local.

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