Abstract:
Nine types of honey (2 imported,7 commercial) samples were
collected from different locations in Sudan were analyzed to evaluate
their physicochemical and microbiological characterteristics.
Physicochemical Properties adopted by the Codex Alimintarius such
as: moisture content (%), acidity (%) ,pH, specific gravity , viscosity,
total sugar(%),reducing sugar(%),sucrose(%) , glucose(%) and
fructose(%) were used.These Physicochemical parameters were
determined using standard methods recommended by the
AOAC
(1990). The results were statistically analyzed .The mean moisture
content of the 9 honey samples 18.2 ± 0.434, acidity 0.54 ± 0.330, pH
3.60 ± 0.114 specific gravity 1.25 ± 0.017 , viscosity 120.7 ± 0.434
,total sugars 70.4 ± 0.425 , reducing sugars 65.1 ± 0.490 , sucrose 5.6
±0.418 , glucose 32.9 ±565 and the fructose 32.1 ±0.439.
The microbiological analysis ensured the presence of yeast cells and
pathogenic bacteria Salmonella, Staphylococcus aureus, and
Clostridium botulinum in both honey types .
Were Sample (B) showed pathogenic bacteria: Salmonella,
Staphylococcus aureus, and Clostridium botulinum, where sample(G)
showed Staphylococcus aureus and Clostridium Botulinum and sample
(I) showed Salmonella.
The results revealed that commercial honeys confine with the
Codex( minimum and maximum) range. On the other hand the study
indicated that Sudanese honey confines with some international
specifications and different with some others.
It is recommended that following , local specifications of Sudanese
honey and development methods of production, collection and safety
handling of honey avoid contamination honey by pathogenic micro-
organisms.
