What is Monofloral Testing?

Monofloral honey is produced when nectar from a single dominant source is primarily collected by honey bees. High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC) is used to analyse the non-sugar components of the honey, specifically phenolics, which create a unique signature sourced from its nectar origin.

Why undertake Monofloral Testing?

This test is important for branding and premium pricing, helping commercial beekeepers authenticate their honey’s unique floral origin.

Monofloral Tests available at Y-Trace

• HPTLC fingerprints (Nectar Signature) 

What Are The Codex Honey Standard?

The Codex Honey Standard outlines specific tests, internationally agreed upon, to ensure the quality, authenticity, and safety of honey traded internationally. This standard helps commercial beekeepers meet market demands, maintain their reputation, and comply with trade regulations. The Codex Alimentarius Commission, established by the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) and the World Health Organization (WHO), sets the international food standards. The honey standard is outlined here.

Why Undertake Codex Honey Testing?

Adhering to this standard ensures that honey meets global quality benchmarks, supports market access, and helps prevent fraud or misrepresentation in the industry. Compliance is essential for maintaining consumer trust and international trade integrity.

Codex Honey Standard Tests Available at Y-Trace

• Moisture Content
• Fructose and Glucose Content (sum of both)
• Water Insoluble Solids Content
• Sucrose Content
• Electrical Conductivity
• Free Acidity
• Diastase Activity
• 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) Content

What Is The USP Honey Compliance?

The USP Standards confirm that the honey is authentic (not adulterated with sugar syrups), of high quality, and safe for consumption, (including consumption by children, as the standard includes a microbial test).

Why Undertake USP Honey Compliance?

These tests help to demonstrate that the honey product meets pharmaceutical-grade and high-end food industry requirements.

USP Honey Compliance Tests Available at Y-Trace

• Moisture Content
• USP L-Proline Reference Standards
• Water Insoluble Solids Content
• Specific Gravity
• Refractive Index
• Chloride Limit
• Sulphate Limit
• Microbial Limit

What Is Total Activity (TA) Testing?

Total Activity (TA) testing is a scientifically validated method used to measure the natural antibacterial activity of honey. This advanced test directly assesses honey’s effect on two unrelated bacteria, providing a precise and repeatable measure of its bioactivity. Unlike older methods, TA testing at Y-Trace ensures complete integration of honey and bacteria in a liquid medium, eliminating diffusion errors and delivering machine-based quantification for accurate results.

Importantly, this test can only be conducted when honey has not been exposed to antibiotics, ensuring the purity and reliability of the results. If you are sending honey from outside of Western Australia, you will need to complete a residue test first, (as antibiotic use is illegal in Western Australia).

Why Undertake Total Activity Testing?

TA testing provides beekeepers and honey producers with a reliable and scientifically backed way to assess the antibacterial strength of their honey. This information is vital for quality assurance, product differentiation, and marketability, particularly in premium domestic and export markets where bioactivity is a key selling point.

In Western Australia, where the use of antibiotics in beekeeping is illegal, TA testing offers a clear advantage by verifying the natural antibacterial properties of honey without contamination concerns. In regions where antibiotics are used, additional evidence must be provided to confirm honey purity before testing can be conducted.

By undertaking TA testing, beekeepers can:

• Validate the bioactivity of their honey with a precise, machine-based assessment.
• Enhance consumer confidence by providing scientific proof of antibacterial properties.
• Strengthen brand reputation and market positioning in both domestic and international markets.
• Support premium pricing for bioactive honey varieties such as Jarrah, Marri, and Karri honey.
• Ensure compliance with industry and regulatory standards for honey purity and quality.

What Is Raw Honey Testing?

The proposed ISO standard for honey includes a standard for Raw Honey. It generally expects honey to not be heated or filtered. We often see or hear claims that raw honey is more nutritious or better for you, primarily because raw honey may contain small amounts of pollen grains that are often removed during processing or filtering. The heating will destroy any natural enzymatic activity.

Why Undertake Raw Honey Testing?

Y-Trace raw honey testing will support beekeepers in verifying the purity, authenticity, and nutritional integrity of their honey, ensuring it meets consumer expectations for unprocessed honey. Testing helps confirm that the honey has not been heated or filtered excessively, preserving its enzymatic activity, pollen content, and natural health benefits, which are key selling points in premium markets.

Raw Honey Tests Available at Y-Trace

• 5-Hydroxymethylfurfural content (not more than 20mg/kg), (Moisture (< 18%), Fructose and Glucose > 60g/100g, Sucrose < 5g/100g; Water insoluble solids content < 0.1g/100g; Free acidity < 50 milliequivalents of acid/kg; Diastase activity > 3 Schade units; EC < 0.8mS/cm; proline content < 180 mg/kg; Invertase > 85 U/kg).