Isotopic characteristics (¹³C, ¹⁵N, and ¹⁸O) of honey from Bangladesh retail markets: Investigating sugar manipulation, botanical and geographical authentication

The study analyzed stable isotope composition (carbon, nitrogen, oxygen) of Bangladesh origin monofloral and multifloral honey for the first time to identify the C-4 plant sugar adulteration, botanical and geographical differentiation. The C-4 sugar content (11.90 to 86.61%) using carbon isotope values of whole honey and protein extract identified 18% adulterated honeys. Whereas 82% honey have been detected as authentic with the delta 13C ranges from-24.86 to -29.26 parts per thousand and the C-4 sugar values ranges from-6.75 to 5.67%. The chemometric approach using carbon and nitrogen isotopes values revealed discrimination among floral types of Bangladeshi authentic honeys indicating the influence of botanical source on isotopic composition. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) of C and N isotopes showed geographic distinction among Bangladeshi and overseas origin honeys. It is notable that the black seed honeys were correctly classified with the CDA analysis representing this type as unique Bangladesh brand as New Zealand manuka honey.