Assessment of consumers' knowledge of the composition, properties and adulteration of honey

Dorota Skrajnowska; Magda Matysek; Barbara Bobrowska-Korczak

doi:10.56782/pps.981

Published : 2026-09-08

Vol. 24 No. 3 (2026)

Assessment of consumers' knowledge of the composition, properties and adulteration of honey

Dorota Skrajnowska

Magda Matysek

Barbara Bobrowska-Korczak

DOI: https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.981

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Honey is one of the most valuable natural products known to man. The promotion of honey consumption should be based, first of all, on consumer education concerning not only its taste and medicinal values, but also its quality and possible contamination. The aim of this study was to assess the level of consumer knowledge on the composition, properties and adulteration of honey. Methods: The research was conducted using an online survey questionnaire. The 203 respondents surveyed included 117 women and 86 men. Results: The main factors motivating respondents to purchase honey were flavour values, and health-promoting properties. Among the respondents – 48% did not know what the composition of typical honey was, while 44% knew it correctly. The majority of respondents (56.5%) did not know the origin of Manuka honey. 46% of respondents were unaware that honey and honey-containing products should not be consumed by children under 1 year of age. The information that 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (5-HMF) analysis is used to detect honey adulteration was known to 18% of respondents. Conclusions: Almost all the people interviewed declared that they consumed honey. However, knowledge of honey composition, properties and adulteration was insufficient. It is necessary to conduct educational initiatives in this field and this article can help set the direction.

Keywords:

properties of honey, composition, consumer knowledge

Most read articles by the same author(s)

Paulina Brewczyńska, Justyna Makowska, Dorota Skrajnowska, Marta Teryks, Andrzej Tokarz, ADDICTION TO CONVENTIONAL AND ELECTRONIC CIGARETTES AND THE RISKS OF PHARMACOTHERAPY IN SMOKERS. , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 13 No. 3 (2015)
Katarzyna Czuba, Magdalena Mazurkiewicz, Kamil Kamiński, Filip Różewski, Dorota Skrajnowska, Andrzej Tokarz, BIOTERRORISM – THREAT, PREVENTIVE ACTIONS, INTERNATIONAL LAW , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 9 No. 2 (2011)
Małgorzata Idzikowska, Marta Janczura, Tomasz Lepionka, Michał Madej, Edyta Mościcka, Justyna Pyzik, Paulina Siwek, Weronika Szubierajska, Dorota Skrajnowska, Andrzej Tokarz, NANOTECHNOLOGY IN FOOD PRODUCTION – DEVELOPMENT, RISKS AND REGULATORY ASPECTS , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 10 No. 4 (2012)

Similar Articles

Muneeb Ur Rahman, Hafiz Rashid Hussain, Habiba Akram, Faisal Gulzar, Muhammad Nouman, Hassan Farooq, Arslan Ashfaq, Zaha Kalsoom, Nifedipine's Synergistic Therapeutic Potential: Overcoming Challenges and Embracing Novel Applications in Pharmacotherapy , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 23 No. 2 (2025)
Katarzyna Łysiak, Anna Łysiak, Barbara Maziarz, Paulina Przywara, Natalia Bogumiłło, Kinga Ściurka, Julia Ignacak, Mikołaj Borek, The use of botulinum toxin in ophthalmology , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)
Celal Bal, Emre Cem Eraslan, Mustafa Sevindik, Antioxidant, antimicrobial activities, total phenolic and element contents of wild edible mushroom Bovista nigrescens , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 21 No. 2 (2023)
Ghadir A. El-Chaghaby, Emre Sevindik, Mustafa Sevindik, Oguzhan Koçer, Imran Uysal, Humulus species: a traditional medicinal plant and its modern pharmacological importance , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 23 No. 4 (2025)
Katarzyna Łysiak, Anna Łysiak, The role of the gut microbiome in Alzheimer's disease , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)
Emre Sevindik, Orhan Unal, Imran Uysal, Mansur Seymen Seğmenoğlu, Mustafa Sevindik, Herbal power: antimicrobial, antioxidant and anticholinesterase properties of Citrullus colocynthis , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 23 No. 2 (2025)
Aleksandra Kowalska, The Vitamin E: overview of history of discovery, mechanism of action, role and deficiency , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 3 (2024)
Jakub Iwaszczuk, Aneta Baj, Piotr Wałejko, Sialic acids – structure and properties , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)
Sükrü Canpolat, Cihan Düşgün, Elif Ildız, Elif Yürümez Canpolat, Cemil İşlek, Antioxidant potential and fatty acid composition of Lactarius sanguifluus , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 22 No. 4 (2024)
Barbara Krassowska-Świebocka, Piotr Rudzki, FORMATION OF DIARYLIODONIUM SALTS AND IODYLOARENES AND THEIR USE IN MODERN ORGANIC SYNTHESIS , Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2004)

<< < 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 > >>

You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.

Details

References

Statistics

Authors

Download files

PDF

Citation rules

Skrajnowska, D., Matysek, M., & Bobrowska-Korczak, B. (2026). Assessment of consumers’ knowledge of the composition, properties and adulteration of honey. Prospects in Pharmaceutical Sciences, 24(3), 64–72. https://doi.org/10.56782/pps.981

Altmetric indicators

Cited by / Share

Licence

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

References

1. Adebolu, T. T. Effect of natural honey on local isolates of diarrhea-causing bacteria in southwestern Nigeria. Afr. J. Biotechnol. 2005, 4(10), 1172–1174. DOI: 10.5897/AJB2005.000-3233

2. Samarghandian, S.; Farkhondeh, T.; & Samini, F. Honey and Health: A Review of Recent Clinical Research. Pharmacogn. Res. 2017, 9(2), 121–127. DOI: 10.4103/0974-8490.204647

3. Lay-flurrie, K. Honey in wound care: Effects, clinical application and patient benefit. Br. J. Nurs. 2008, 17(11), S30, S32-36. DOI: 10.12968/bjon.2008.17.Sup5.29649

4. Alvarez-Suarez, J. M.; Tulipani, S.; Romandini, S.; Bertoli, E.; & Battino, M. Contribution of honey in nutrition and human health: A review. Mediterr. J. Nutr. Metab. 2010, 3(1), 15–23. DOI: 10.1007/s12349-009-0051-6

5. Infografika: Rynek miodu w Unii Europejskiej | Aktualności | Parlament Europejski. Published: 2018, February 28. Available at: https://www.europarl.europa.eu/news/pl/headlines/economy/20180222STO98435/infografika-rynek-miodu-w-unii-europejskiej

6. Żak, N. Consumer preferences for the Polish and USA consumption of honey. Marketing i Zarządzanie 2017, 48, 117–130. DOI: 10.18276/miz.2017.48-11

7. Gontarz, A.; Blonska, I.; Socha, S. Analiza preferencji konsumenckich studentów dotycząca miodów pszczelich. Wiadomości Zootechniczne 2016, 54(4), 61-76.

8. Mattila, H. R.; Rios, D.; Walker-Sperling, V. E.; Roeselers, G.; Newton, I. L. G. Characterization of the Active Microbiotas Associated with Honey Bees Reveals Healthier and Broader Communities when Colonies are Genetically Diverse. PLOS ONE 2012, 7(3), Art. No: e32962. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0032962

9. Alqarni, A. S.; Owayss, A. A.; Mahmoud, A. A.; Hannan, M. A. Mineral content and physical properties of local and imported honeys in Saudi Arabia. J. Saudi Chem. Soc. 2014, 18(5), 618–625. DOI: 10.1016/j.jscs.2012.11.009

10. Pocola, C.B.; Šedíkib, P.; Glogovețanc, A.I.; Brumăd, I.S. Traceability issues of honey from the consumers’ perspective in Romania. Int. Food Agribus. Manag. 2022, 25, 709-722. DOI: 10.22434/IFAMR2021.0145

11. Jenkins, R.; Burton, N.; & Cooper, R. Effect of manuka honey on the expression of universal stress protein A in meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus. Int. J. Antimicrob. Agents 2011, 37(4), 373–376. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2010.11.036

12. Kato, Y.; Umeda, N.; Maeda, A.; Matsumoto, D.; Kitamoto, N.; Kikuzaki, H. Identification of a Novel Glycoside, Leptosin, as a Chemical Marker of Manuka Honey. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012, 60(13), 3418–3423. DOI: 10.1021/jf300068w

13. Adams, C. J.; Boult, C. H.; Deadman, B. J.; Farr, J. M.; Grainger, M. N. C.; Manley-Harris, M.; Snow, M. J. Isolation by HPLC and characterisation of the bioactive fraction of New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey. Carbohydr. Res. 2008, 343(4), 651–659. DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2007.12.011

14. Mavric, E.; Wittmann, S.; Barth, G.; Henle, T. Identification and quantification of methylglyoxal as the dominant antibacterial constituent of Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honeys from New Zealand. Mol. Nutr. Food Res. 2008, 52(4), 483–489. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.200700282

15. Adams, C. J.; Manley-Harris, M.; Molan, P. C. The origin of methylglyoxal in New Zealand manuka (Leptospermum scoparium) honey. Carbohydr. Res. 2009, 344(8), 1050–1053. DOI: 10.1016/j.carres.2009.03.020

16. Manuka Honey Project: Summary of findings, Food Standards Agency (FSA), 2017. https://www.food.gov.uk/sites/default/files/manuka-honey-project-summary-findings (accessed on September 7, 2026)

17. Rudnicka, K.; Kwiatkowska, P.; Chmiela, M. Mikroflora miodu jako źródło spor C. botulinum i przyczyna rozwoju botulizmu niemowląt – rozważania na temat zasadności oczyszczania miodu w kontekście obowiązującego prawa. Postępy Mikrobiologii 2015, 54(2), 184-194.

18. Grant, K. A.; McLauchlin, J.; Amar, C. Infant botulism: Advice on avoiding feeding honey to babies and other possible risk factors. Community Pract. 2013, 86(7), 44–46.

19. Nevas, M.; Lindström, M.; Hörman, A.; Keto-Timonen, R.; Korkeala, H. Contamination routes of Clostridium botulinum in the honey production environment. Environ. Microbiol. 2006, 8(6), 1085–1094. DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-2920.2006.001000.x

20. Olaitan, P. B.; Adeleke, O. E.; Ola, I. O. Honey: A reservoir for microorganisms and an inhibitory agent for microbes. Afr. Health Sci. 2007, 7(3), 159–165. DOI: 10.5555/afhs.2007.7.3.159

21. Smith, G. E.; Hinde, F.; Westmoreland, D.; Berry, P. R.; Gilbert, R. J. Infantile botulism. Arch. Dis. Child. 1989, 64(6), 871–872. DOI: 10.1136/adc.64.6.871

22. Cox, N.; Hinkle, R. Infant botulism. Am. Fam. Physician 2002, 65(7), 1388–1392

23. Bamumin, A.; Bamumin, S.; Ahmadini, H.A.; Alhindi, Y.; Alsanosi, S.; Alqashqari, H.; Esheba, G.E.; Ayoub, N.; Falemban, A. Knowledge, attitude and practice among mothers on the relationship between honey and botulism in Saudi Arabian infants: a cross-section study. Ann. Med. 2023, 55, 2, 2279746

24. Sak-Bosnar, M.; Sakač, N. Direct potentiometric determination of diastase activity in honey. Food Chem. 2012, 135(2), 827–831. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2012.05.006

25. Wesołowska, M.; Dżugan, M. Aktywność i stabilność termiczna diastazy występującej w podkarpackich miodach odmianowych. Zywn., Nauka, Technol., Jakosc/Food, Sci. Technol., Qual. 2017, 4(113), 103–112. DOI: 10.15193/zntj/2017/113/214

26. Dziennik Ustaw—Rok 2015 poz. 850—INFOR.PL. (n.d.). Available at: https://www.infor.pl/akt-prawny/DZU.2015.117.0000850,rozporzadzenie-ministra-rolnictwa-i-rozwoju-wsi-zmieniajace-rozporzadzenie-w-sprawie-szczegolowych-wymagan-w-zakresie-jakosci-handlowej-miodu.html (accessed on May 8, 2023)

27. Kaškonienė, V.; Venskutonis, P.R.; Čeksterytė, V. Carbohydrate composition and electrical conductivity of different origin honeys from Lithuania. LWT Food Sci. Technol. 2010, 43, 801–807. DOI: 10.1016/j.lwt.2010.01.007

28. Kamal, M.A.; Klein, P. Determination of sugars in honey by liquid chromatography. Saudi J. Biol. Sci. 2011, 18, 17–21. DOI: 10.1016/j.sjbs.2010.09.003

29. Escuredo, O.; Dobre, I.; Fernández-González, M.; Seijo, MC. Contribution of botanical origin and sugar composition of honeys on the crystallization phenomenon. Food Chem. 2014, 149, 84–90. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2013.10.097

30. Chernetsova, E. S.; Morlock, G. E. Assessing the capabilities of direct analysis in real time mass spectrometry for 5-hydroxymethylfurfural quantitation in honey. Int. J. Mass Spectrom. 2012, 314, 22–32. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijms.2012.01.012

31. Moreira, R. F. A.; De Maria, C. A. B.; Pietroluongo, M.; Trugo, L. C. Chemical changes in the volatile fractions of Brazilian honeys during storage under tropical conditions. Food Chem. 2010, 121(3), 697–704. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2010.01.006

32. Śliwińska, A.; Przybylska, A.; Bazylak, G. Wpływ zmian temperatury przechowywania na zawartość

5-hydroksymetylofurfuralu. Bromatol. Chem. Toksykol. 2012, XLV(3), 271–279.

33. Zábrodská, B.; Vorlová, L. Adulteration of honey and available methods for detection – a review. Acta Vet. Brno 2015, 83(10), 85–102. DOI: 10.2754/avb201483S10S85

34. Bakhiya, N.; Monien, B.; Frank, H.; Seidel, A.; Glatt, H. Renal organic anion transporters OAT1 and OAT3 mediate the cellular accumulation of 5-sulfooxymethylfurfural, a reactive, nephrotoxic metabolite of the Maillard product 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. Biochem. Pharmacol. 2009, 78(4), 414–419. DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2009.04.017

35. Bauer-Marinovic, M.; Taugner, F.; Florian, S.; Glatt, H. Toxicity studies with 5-hydroxymethylfurfural and its metabolite 5-sulphooxymethylfurfural in wild-type mice and transgenic mice expressing human sulphotransferases 1A1 and 1A2. Arch. Toxicol. 2012, 86(5), 701–711. DOI: 10.1007/s00204-012-0807-5

36. Pastoriza de la Cueva, S.; Álvarez, J.; Végvári, Á.; Montilla-Gómez, J.; Cruz-López, O.; Delgado-Andrade, C.; Rufián-Henares, J. A. Relationship between HMF intake and SMF formation in vivo: An animal and human study. Mol. Nut. Food Res. 2017, 61(3), Art. No: 1600773. DOI: 10.1002/mnfr.201600773

37. Shapla, U. M.; Solayman, Md.; Alam, N.; Khalil, Md. I.; Gan, S. H. 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels in honey and other food products: Effects on bees and human health. Chem. Cent. J. 2018, 12(1), Art. No: 35. DOI: 10.1186/s13065-018-0408-3

38. Ding, X.; Wang, M.Y.; Yao, Y.X.; Li, G.Y.; Cai, B.C. Protective effect of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural derived from processed Fructus Corni on human hepatocyte LO2 injured by hydrogen peroxide and its mechanism. J. Ethnopharmacol. 2010, 128(2), 373–376. DOI: 10.1016/j.jep.2010.01.043

39. Li, M.M.; Wu, L.Y.; Zhao, T.; Xiong, L.; Huang, X.; Liu, Z.H.; Fan, X.L.; Xiao, C.R.; Gao, Y.; Ma, Y.B.; Chen, J.J.; Zhu, L.L.; Fan, M. The protective role of 5-HMF against hypoxic injury. Cell Stress Chaperones, 2011, 16(3), 267–273. DOI: 10.1007/s12192-010-0238-2

40. Lin, S.M.; Wu, J.Y.; Su, C.; Ferng, S.; Lo, C.Y.; Chiou, R.Y.Y. Identification and Mode of Action of

5-Hydroxymethyl-2-furfural (5-HMF) and 1-Methyl-1,2,3,4-tetrahydro-β-carboline-3-carboxylic Acid (MTCA) as Potent Xanthine Oxidase Inhibitors in Vinegars. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2012, 60(39), 9856–9862. DOI: 10.1021/jf302711e

41. Yamada, P.; Nemoto, M.; Shigemori, H.; Yokota, S.; Isoda, H. Isolation of 5-(hydroxymethyl)furfural from Lycium chinense and its inhibitory effect on the chemical mediator release by basophilic cells. Planta Med. 2011, 77(5), 434–440. DOI: 10.1055/s-0030-1250402

42. Zhao, L.; Chen, J.; Su, J.; Li, L.; Hu, S.; Li, B.; Zhang, X.; Xu, Z.; Chen, T. In vitro antioxidant and antiproliferative activities of 5-hydroxymethylfurfural. J. Agric. Food Chem. 2013, 61(44), 10604–10611. DOI: 10.1021/jf403098y

43. da Silva, P. M.; Gauche, C.; Gonzaga, L. V.; Costa, A. C. O.; Fett, R. Honey: Chemical composition, stability and authenticity. Food Chem. 2016, 196, 309–323. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2015.09.051

44. Regulations of the Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development from October 3, 2003 [Rozporządzenia Ministra Rolnictwa i Rozwoju Wsi z dnia 3 października 2003 r.] (Dz. U. z 2023 r. poz. 2513). Available at: https://isap.sejm.gov.pl/isap.nsf/download.xsp/WDU20230002513/O/D20232513.pdf

45. Siddiqui, A. J.; Musharraf, S. G.; Choudhary, M. I.; Rahman, A. Application of analytical methods in authentication and adulteration of honey. Food Chem. 2017, 217, 687–698. DOI: 10.1016/j.foodchem.2016.09.001