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Inspectors of the Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) detected several lots of honey provided with a name of a non-existing producer: Český med, Valašské Meziříčí, Czech Republic. The goods were accompanied with a receipt indicating an untrue ID, name and address of company: ČESKÝ MED, Bezručova 24, Valašské Meziříčí. The products were also accompanied by an adulterated certificate of the Bee Research Institut in Dol. The honey in question was found at two South-Moravian sellers in March of this year.

In one case the supplier misused information of one existing domestic producer and CAFIA therefore filed a criminal complaint against an unknown perpetrator.

Additional CAFIA laboratory analysis of the honey samples mentioned below detected values proving intentional adulteration or inexpert treatment which significantly modified the characteristic of honey and decreased its quality.

• Forest honeydew honey, best before date by 2019. The sample contained foreign sugars (honey must not contain any other substances or additives with the exception of different sort of honey), honey was of light colour compared to dark-brown typical for this sort of honey and was of untypical taste (fruity, malty, herbal) – its organoleptic characteristics failed to comply with honey at all. Pollen analysis proved different botanical origin than indicated on the labelling.

• Czech mixed flower honey, best before date by 8^th October 2019. The analysis proved presence of foreign sugars and organoleptic characteristics failed to comply with honey, i.e. honey was of untypical colour, taste and smell. The pollen analysis proved adulteration of the sort of honey placed on the market.

   

• Forest honeydew honey, without best before date and lot. The analysis proved presence of foreign sugars, untypical taste and smell and different botanical origins of honey than indicated in the name of the product.

Apart from the mentioned deficiencies, already primary analyses showed non-compliance as regards diastase activity (lower than required activity of enzyme diastase indicates lower quality of honey caused by diluting or inexpert treatment), saccharose and HMF (presence of hydroxymethylfurfural higher than permitted indicates decreased quality of honey).

With regard to these detections, CAFIA recommends all sellers and traders with honey they pay higher attention to the authenticity of origin of this assortment and verify it directly at suppliers or producers of honey. In case of doubts regarding the origin of honey or non-standard or suspicious practices of suppliers, they may refer directly to CAFIA.

CAFIA informed of the case in its press release of 23^rd March 2018.

Article by: Mgr. Radoslav Pospíchal – Officer for Media Communication,

phone: +420 542 426 613

27^th July 2018