The claim by the environmental watchdog CSE that adulterated honey is being sold by 13 major brands and some smaller ones in India has sparked a massive debate online. On Wednesday, the Center for Science and the Environment published a study claiming that honey samples from leading brands such as Dabur, Patanjali, Baidyanath, Zandu, Hitkari, and Apis Himalaya were adulterated with sugar syrup.
All of these leading brands failed the NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance) test, which is considered the gold standard for testing the quality of honey. Only three brands passed the test: Saffola, MarkfedSohna and Nature’s Nectar (one in two samples).
While the study’s findings have exposed the rampant adulteration of packaged honey sold in Indian markets, further investigation by the CSE also found a connection between ‘Honeygate’ and China.
‘Honeygate’ and the connection with China
In their study, CSE highlighted that three main types of syrups – golden syrup, invert sugar syrup, and rice syrup – are used for the adulteration of honey.
He added that the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) had alerted importers and good state commissioners to the adulteration last year. Despite the warning, those syrups are somehow being imported into the country, the CSE suggested.
Amit Khurana, program director for CSE’s Food Safety and Toxins team, said the three imported sugar syrups named by FSSAI “are either not imported under these names or are not accused of adulteration.”
Read also | Dabur, Patanjali among 13 brands that adulterate honey with sugar syrup: CSE study
He stated that Chinese companies mainly export this syrup as fructose to India.
“Instead, Chinese companies mainly export this syrup as fructose to India. So why did FSSAI publish what is clearly an erroneous order? We are not sure, ”Khurana said.
“It is unclear how much the food regulator really knows about this shady business.”
The ‘Honey’ investigation
The CSE claimed that it tracked down Chinese trade portals such as Alibaba, which “advertised fructose syrup that you can bypass testing.”
During the course of the investigation, it also discovered that the same Chinese companies that advertised fructose syrup, which can pass the C3 and C4 tests, were also exporting to India. Then the environmental watchdog carried out an undercover operation to dig deeper.
He sent emails to Chinese companies requesting these syrups, which the companies say could pass tests in India. As expected, he received responses that the syrups were available and could be shipped to India.
“Chinese companies informed CSE that even if 50-80 percent of the honey is adulterated with syrup, it would pass all the stipulated tests. The Chinese company sent a sample of the syrup that can bypass tests as “paint pigment” to clear customs, “the study noted.
CSE also located a factory that makes syrup for adulteration of honey in Jaspur, Uttarakhand. CSE investigators contacted the factory and obtained a sample. The researchers then adulterated samples of pure honey with the syrup obtained and found that they passed the purity tests.
“What was shocking is to find that the samples adulterated with 25% and 50% sugar syrup passed the purity test. In this way, we confirm that there are sugar syrups that can circumvent the 2020 FSSAI standard for honey, ”said Khurana.
Commenting on the findings, CSE CEO Sunita Narain said: “It is time we scoffed at the adulteration business. We have the following ‘requests’ from government, industry and consumers “
He also urged the government to stop importing syrups from China and also to strengthen the application in India through public testing to hold companies accountable.
“The government must obtain samples analyzed using advanced technologies and make this information public so that consumers are aware and our health is not compromised. It will also hold companies accountable. Make sure all honey companies have to trace the origins of the honey from the beekeeper to the hive, ”Narain added.
CSE supports your research
Hours earlier, Dabur rejected the CSE report’s findings, saying that it is the only company in India that has an NMR test kit in its own laboratory. Dabur added that the reports “seem motivated and aimed at smearing the brand.” Patanjali and Emami have also questioned the study conducted by CSE.
In response to its statement, CSE said in a press release issued Thursday that it supports its findings.
“We support our findings. Our findings have revealed that 10 out of 13 brands failed all tests for purity. Most of these are big brands, including Dabur. It’s not just about Dabur. In fact, we’ve talked about how smaller brands get adulterated too. It’s about consumer health. We have shared the detailed laboratory results of all the samples on our website, ”said CSE.
Commenting on the NMR test report shared by Dabur, CSE said it is a Broker machine / equipment report for the NMR profile.
“Bruker is a company that developed NMR and promotes it. We would like the consumer to know that this is not a lab report, which involves expert interpretation of the information by the team, ”said CSE.
“In the case of NMR, it is essential that the final conclusion about the adulteration of a sample is based on the interpretation and confirmation of an expert NMR laboratory. Even the report shared by Dabur mentions that expert interpretation is necessary before drawing any conclusions, “the statement added.
The environmental watchdog also claimed that it has shared findings based on laboratory reports from Germany and that it involves expert interpretation and confirmation of the data obtained by the equipment / machine. “This is a universally accepted practice,” he said.
The CSE further noted that Dabur has shared the report of a single sample. “Furthermore, the lot number of the analyzed sample is not mentioned. So it is not clear which batch is being talked about, ”said CSE.
“On the other hand, we have provided three lot numbers of three samples analyzed from Dabur; ie BM3463, with manufacturing date May 25, 2020; BM3589, manufactured July 10, 2020; and BM3636, manufactured on August 5, 2020. All three batches were found to be adulterated. In the absence of this information on laboratory testing by lot number, Dabur’s purity claim is not sustainable, ”he added.
