Iranian researchers have created a kit for consumers to detect adulteration in honey. “A major concern for consumers is quality assurance of honey,” said Abbas Ebrahimi, the project manager, Mehr New Agency reported. The kit easily detects the purity of honey and in the shortest time possible. It is designed to evaluate the presence and amount of Hydroxy-methyl-furfural (HMF) in honey. “HMF is a compound produced by acid-catalyzed dehydration of sugars, primarily fructose. Fake honey has large amounts of the enzyme,” he said. Project researchers Seyed Hossein Safavi and Abbas Ebrahimi had won the second prize in chemistry at the 18th Khwarizmi Youth Festival held last September.
