Forest Honey,, Health and Nutrition -Madhu Duniya 2

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Forest Honey,

Halh and Nurion

Published in 2012by: JMHI/Dian Niaga/NTFP-EP, Jakarta/Ponanak.

All rights reserved

Edited by: Jenne de BeerCover and graphic design: Wahyu Widhi

Printed in Indonesia


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Forest Honey, Health and Nutrion

SYMPOSIUM PUBLICATION

Contents

Acknowledgements

1. Jenne de Beer, Ma Crisna Guerrero & Heri Valennus: General Introducon

2. Jenne de Beer: Dierent Honeys, Dierent Issues: an Overview

3. Si Amrah Sulaiman: The Potenal Health Benets of Tualang Honey, Based On

Recent Research Findings

4. Chanpen Chanchao: Bioacvies of Bee Products in Thailand

5. Phung Huu Chinh & Le Quang Trung: The Nutrional Value of Bee Pollen and

the Best Ways to Handle and Preserve the Same

6. Surendra Raj Joshi: Internaonal Standards for Honey: An Issue of Inclusiveness

7. Johnny Utama: From Forest gate to Sophiscated Market: the Flow of Apis

dorsata honey in Indonesia

8. Robert Leo: Tradional Uses of Honey in Southern India

9. Pandurang Hegde: Honey Laundering: the Impact on Health and Nutrion

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Acknowledgements

We thank the authors, who all spent valuable me on reworking their symposium

talks into book chapters. We want in parcular to thank the contributors from theChulalongkorn University, Bangkok and Universi Sains, Kelantan - with whom

we had the happy occasion to link up with for the rst me and learn about the

advanced research at their respecve academic instuons.

We are also especially grateful to Surendra Raj Joshi from Nepal, who because of

an acute health issue, was unable to aend the symposium, but who nevertheless,

from a distance, contributed fully, providing key informaon around the me of the

Bogor event and a very ne book chapter immediately aerwards.

A great many individuals further contributed to the successful convening of the

symposium in Bogor and feed-back provided was incorporated in the eventual text

of several chapters in this publicaon.

Special thanks to Director Johnny Utama and sta of Dian Niaga, and also to sta of

Riak Bumi and NTFP-EP who took care of the awless logiscs for the symposium

and to Dian Niagas freelance design arst Wahyu Bek Widhi, who took charge of

lay out and graphic design.

Finally, the symposium and subsequent publicaon were made possible thanks

to nancial support from Both ENDS, Oxfam Hongkong, the Ford Foundaon and

Cordaid.

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Gnral Inroduon

Jenne de Beer1, Ma. Crisna Guerrero2 & Heri Valennus3

This lile book originates from a one-day scienc symposium on Forest Honey,

Health & Nutrion, which took place in the Botanical Gardens of Bogor, Indonesia

on September 19th2011.

The symposium, a rst, was organized by the Forest Honey Network Indonesia

(JMHI), together with Dian Niaga Jakarta and in close collaboraon with the NTFP

Exchange Programme for South & Southeast Asia (NTFP-EP).

The scienc gathering, with speakers and parcipants from seven4Asian countries -

notably India, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Indonesia and the Philippines

- was part of a larger Madhu Duniya event5. The laer is an informal regional forest

honey network, which rst came together in Andhra Pradesh (India) in November

2007 and which aims to oer a plaorm for Apis dorsata honey collectors and

their supporters for a pressure cooker exchange of ancient tradions, global

developments, as well as of new approaches and appropriate technologies. The

Madhu Duniya-2011s follow-up event took place in Ujung Kulon Naonal Park,

Banten.

Meanwhile, in view of the relevance and high quality of symposium contribuons

and in order to reach a larger audience, it was decided to subsequently produce the

publicaon at hand.

The aim of the publicaon is to share up-to-date informaon on the nutrion and

health benets of honey, pollen and propolis, produced by Asian bees foraging in

forests, in parcular the species Apis dorsata and, to a lesser extent, sngless bees

of the genus Trigona. In addion, the context of wider issues aecng forest honeys

posion as a niche product, as well as factors inuencing the condion of the bees,

are also addressed.

This publicaon may also serve as a reference to the many lovers of forest honey,

as the laer are today more discriminate with regards to the food they consume.

1. Advisor Forest Foods, NTFP-EP, Quezon City

2. Ma Crisna Guerrero, Execuve Director NTFP-EP, QC

3. Heri Valennus, Director Riak Bumi and Coordinator JMHI, Ponanak

4. Parcipants were also expected from Bangladesh and Nepal, but they were unable to make it in me.

5. Honey World in (originally) Farsi/Sanskrit.

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Dirn Hony, Dirn Iu: an Ovrviw

Jenne de Beer

Advisor Forest Foods, NTFP-EP, Quezon City, Philippines

I. INTRODUCTION

In much of Asia wild gathered forest honey produced by a range of bees has since

long been a sought aer good for health delicacy.

The focus of this chapter is on issues in relaon to the bee speciesApis dorsata1, the

primary forest honey producer in Asia. For comparison, some issues with respect

to the European hybrid A. mellifera will also be addressed. Furthermore, special

consideraon is given to recent development in the framework of the Madhu Duniya

network.

II. PRODUCTION BASE

Apis mellifera

The species has been introduced to tropical Asia and is managed through box hivebeekeeping. The bees are believed to be unable to go feral and survive on their own

in this region.

Currently the bees are worldwide aected by Colony Collapse syndrome (CCS),

a phenomenon, which became rst manifest in the USA during the winter of

2006/2007 and which has lead to wide spread dying of bee colonies. The causes are

complex and not yet fully understood, but it involves the spreading of mite-borne

viruses, as well as the negave eects of exposure to inseccides, micides and

fungicides (either harmful individually or in combinaon) on the bees condion2

.

Apis dorsata

The species cannot be domescated and occurs only in the wild3.

1. Other AsianApisspecies, foraging in forests, are cerana, orea, nigrocincta, koschevnikovi, andreniformusand

laboriosa. Forest honey is also harvested from sngless bees, e.g. of the genus Trigona.

2. Informaon Gard Os, presentaon during the Internaonal Conference on Beekeeping Development and Honey

Markeng, Hanoi, Oct. 30 Nov. 1, 2010.

3. A light form of management however is possible, parcularly in wetland areas, through a raer (Tikung) system,

where the bees are enced to choose aracve nesng locaons on arcial branches. See further: JMHI (2006)

Forest Honey Manual, Technical & Quality Improvement of Forest Honey in Danau Sentarum Naonal Park.

Ponanak/Jakarta.

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No transmissions of the above menoned mite-borne diseases toA. dorsatabees

have been reported and perhaps the lack of interacon betweenA. dorsata and

potenal vectorA. Melifera,in combinaon with the bees strong hygienic response

to mites, may save them of the scourge4.

Nevertheless, the species is under pressure too, primarily because of dwindling

habitats, as a consequence of rampant forest degradaon and conversion. Hive

condion appears also aected by a higher frequency of extreme weather events

(reported by honey collectors e.g. for several locaons in Indonesia and the

Philippines) and likely related to climate change.

Destrucve harvesng pracses denitely oen do play a role as well.

In order to address the laer, by now sustainable harvesng pracces have been

introduced throughout the Madhu Duniya network. An important element in the

shi to sustainability is the acceptance of a rule that only the honey part of a hive

should be cut, hence leaving the brood part behind on the branch. However, in order

to cut the hive carefully, those collectors who tradionally harvest in the dark at

night, will have to shi to carrying out the same in broad day light. The down side

of this is, that the bees will react more forcefully to the disturbance of the hive and

stronger smokers than used previously may have to be introduced. Nevertheless,

aer occasional early objecons, eventually, most harvesters do adopt this system.

In addion, organized honey collectors also play an increasingly acve and visible

role in the forest (and bee) conservaon eort5.

III. DEMAND/CONSUMPTION

Apis mellifera

The total volume of honey produced is huge, while most, including honey used for

industrial purposes (bakery products for example), is sold in bulk and at fairly low

prices. However, some branded honeys fetch top dollar. However, the sector is now

struggling with quality issues related to the problems menoned above, in parcularwith the occurrence of anbioc and chemical residues in the product. Today, the

anbiocs are widely applied in an aempt to ght o infecous CCS diseases 6. As

for the chemicals, e.g. a recent study carried out in the USA found traces of no less

than 98 (!) dierent inseccides, herbicides, fungicides and micides (the laer used

to control Varoa mites) in pollen samples7.

4. See B. Oldroyd & S. Wongsiri (2006) Asian Honey Bees: Biology, Conservaon and Human Interacons, pp. 23-24, for a

discussion of this aspect.

5. See for example: JMHI, Dian Niaga, NTFP-EP (2008) Forest Honey & Forest Conservaon: What is the Link?, DepHut,

Jakarta.

6. Anbiocs are somemes also administered as growth enhancer.7. Gard Os, presentaon during the internaonal conference on beekeeping development and honey markeng, Hanoi,

Oct. 30 Nov. 1, 2010. For the issue of anbiocs in honey, see chapter Honey Laundering: the Impact on Health &

Nutrion in the publicaon at hand.

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Apis dorsata

Apart from household consumpon8, the honey is tradionally sold at the village

gate, along roads and in wet markets, typically in used (for example beer or soy

sauce) boles, while adulteraon is rampant.

Now, with newly acquired quality standards through Madhu Duniya partner

intervenons9, and building on tradional food preferences in the region, its niche

is expanding and demand is signicantly up.

A strong point in relaon to health and nutrion is the fact that it concerns an

authenc beyond organic natural product, which:

Is free of pescides, chemical anbiocs and other addives;

comes from a clean (forest) environment;

is derived from a great variaon of nectar sources.

IV. RECOGNITION, RESEARCH & SUPPORT

Apis mellifera

Internaonal quality standards (see further below) have been designed with this

type of honey in mind. The research base is very large10 albeit these days eorts

appears largely directed at the diseases threatening the bees survival.

Product promoon is overall strong and sustained take for example New Zealands

branded Manuka honey - while the support infrastructure forA. melliferabeekeeping

is very substanal and is provided by government and development agencies, as

well as by a large industry that, over the years, has grown around this product.

8. On the subsistence level, honey is commonly consumed in a mix of larvae and pollen. The mixture provides an

exceponal rich nutrional food bomb.

9. Hygienic handling techniques have been introduced in many sites including the use of lters instead of hand-squeezing

to separate honey and wax. Furthermore, strict rules have been set to prohibit adulteraon with sugar/water or inferior

types of honey and honey collectors now take pride in guaranteeing the purity of the product.

10. See Oldman & Wongsiri, p. 249.

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Apis dorsata

The EU denes honey as the natural sweet substance produced by honey bees.

But the denion of honeybee is subsequently narrowed to one that excludes all

species, expect forA. mellifera.As a consequence, even the best grades of dorsata

honey, incredibly, cannot be sold in the E.U for what it undeniably is: pure bee

honey

The Codex Alimentarius (food standards developed by FAO/WHO) is beer as it, in

principle, covers all honey bees. (But not sngless bees!) However, standards, last

revised in 2001, are set on the basis of extensive research carried out onA. mellifera

honey, parcularly in Europe and other temperate regions. But the norms, e.g. for

water content and HMF, do not at all provide for the specic characteriscs of the

honey produced byA. dorsataand otherApisspecies11.

Meanwhile, funding for research is minimal, while technical assistance and other

support, unl very recently, likewise have been praccally non-existent.

Only since partners in the Madhu Duniya network, with crical backstopping and

training provided by pioneers BRDC (Vietnam) and Keystone (India), were able to

fully dedicate themselves to the challenges,

things began to change for the beer.

V. CONCLUSION

Great progress has been made over the last

decade or so in promong A. dorsata forest

honey development, bee conservaon and

sustainable management.

Sll, the threats to the resource base are

unabated and there is certainly room forfurther improvements. But one is hopeful

in light of the steady growth in interest for

this excellent specialty food and the small

creatures who produce it.

11. See further chapter Surendra Joshi Internaonal Standardsfor Honey: An Issue of inclusiveness.

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THE POTENTIAL HEALTH BENEFITS OF TUALANGHONEY BASED ON RECENT RESEARCH FINDINGS

Si Amrah Sulaiman

Coordinator for Tradional & Complementary-Integrave MedicineResearch School of Medical Sciences, Health Campus, Universi Sains Malaysia

16150 Kubang Kerian, Kelantan, MALAYSIA

INTRODUCTION

Bee hive products such as honey, bee pollen, bee bread, royal jelly, propolis and bee

venom have long been known to humans as agents that heal, nourish and protect

the body. These products provides macro and micronutrients, improve the body

immune system, have high anoxidant and free radical scavenging acvies, haveanmicrobial properes and are capable of improving the blood circulaon. Honey

has been used for centuries as food and medicine while many religious books refer

to its medicinal properes.

Tradionally honey is used for its anbacterial, anfungal, anviral, an-

inammatory, ancancer, analgesics, anpyrecs, immune enhancers, aphrodisiac,

an-ageing and treatment for inferlity. It has long been used for wound dressing,

preservaves and ansepc.

RESEARCH ON TUALANG HONEY AT UNIVERSITI SAINS MALAYSIA

The huge health potenals of honey have aracted many researchers to explore the

medicinal properes of this unique sweet bee hive product. Recently researchers at

Universi Sains Malaysia (USM) have conducted several studies on Tualang honey

AgroMas, Malaysia. Most of the research ndings on AgroMas Tualang honey have

been presented during the 1st and 2nd Internaonal Conferences on the Medicinal

Use of Honey. Both conferences were organized by the Universi Sains Malaysia honey

research team members in June 2006 and January 2010, respecvely at Kota Bharu,

Kelantan, Malaysia. The abstract of papers presented during the rst conference

are available in the website of Honey Science Network and the abstracts for the

second conference have been kindly published on line by Journal of ApiProduct and

ApiMedical Science (JAAS) in Volume 2, Issue 1 (2010). Some of the research ndings

have also been published in various internaonal scienc journals.

Tualang honey AgroMas, studied by the USM researchers, was provided by the

Federal Agricultural Markeng Authority (FAMA), a government agency responsible

for markeng the Malaysian Tualang honey. The wild Apis dorsatabees built their

hives high up on the Tualang tree (Koompassia excelsa) in the Malaysian rain forest.

They are collecng nectar from various origins and producing a light-dark yellow

muloral honey. FAMA is responsible in ensuring the quality of AgroMas Tualang

honey in accordance with Malaysian honey standard.

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Tualang honey has been clinically evaluated and used in diabec and burn wound

dressing at Hospital Universi Sains Malaysia, Kubang Kerian, Kelantan. Most

paents favor the use of honey as dressing compared to usual standard dressings

as honey cleanse, heals, produces pleasant smell, reduces pain and inammaon

and prevents the adherence of the gauze over the wound. Tualang honey is also

being used regularly for the prevenon of radiaon mucosis among paent withnasopharyngeal carcinoma. Research on the use of honey for dressing in full thickness

burn wound in rat animal models reveals that Tualang honey impregnated dressings

were as eecve as silver impregnated hydrobre dressings in terms of dressing

properes, promoon of wound healing and inammatory reacon. Honeys acidity

with high sugar content, together with the presence of furfural compounds and

hydrogen peroxide, are believed to contribute to its superior anbacterial properes.

Tualang honey AgroMas showed good anbacterial acvity against several gram

posive and gram negave wound infecons.

Tualang honey AgroMas contains high phenolics and avonoids compounds as well

as having strong anoxidant and free radicals scavenging acvies. Hence, it could

be useful for the management of free radical and oxidave stress related diseases.

Studies have shown that Tualang honey has a protecve eect on tescular funcon

and reduces oxidave stress in rats exposed to cigaree smoke.

Studies done by our team on andiabec and anoxidant eects of AgroMas

Tualang honey in streptozotocin (STZ)-Induced Diabec Rats reveals that Tualang

honey treated diabec rats had signicantly reduced blood glucose levels and a

slowdown of the progression of diabec nephropathy, as compared with the diabec

control group. Furthermore, Tualang Honey aenuated the changes in pancreac

anoxidant enzymes in response to the generaon of oxidants and oers addional

anoxidant eect to glibenclamide and meormin. In STZ-induced diabec rats,

Tualang honey or a combinaon of Tualang honey, glibenclamide and meormin,

showed improvement on anoxidant markers when compared to a diabec control

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group, as well as, to diabec rats treated with glibenclamide and meormin. Tualang

honey also increases the anoxidant capacity of the pancreas of STZ-induced diabec

rats and reduces the blood pressure of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs).

Tualang honey was shown to have benecial eects on ovariectomised rats, a

model for postmenopausal women. Administraon of Tualang honey for two weeks

to ovariectomised rats signicantly increased the thickness of vaginal epithelium.

Tualang honey restores the morphology of the bia bones compared to rats in the

ovariectomised control group. The levels of estradiol and progesterone, in honey

treated groups were markedly lower than that in the ovariectomised control group.

At low doses, Tualang honey increased the serum free testosterone levels. The

research ndings in rat animal models showed that Tualang honey prevents uterine

atrophy and increase bone density.

In vitro cell culture indicates that Tualang honey has anproloferave eects

against oral cancer cell lines. It is also reported to induce apoptosis and disrupt

the mitochondrial membrane potenal in human breast and cervical cancer cell

lines. Our preleminary study in rats with 7,12-dimethylbenz()anthracene (DMBA)-

induced mammary carcinoma revealed that tumors in Tualang honey treated groups

had slower size increment and smaller mean tumor sizes, as compared to the control

group.

Finally, our preliminary clinical data show that Tualang honey was found to also be

able to inuence the development of acute respiratory symptoms amongst the Hajj

pilgrims.

CONCLUSION

The data on animal studies so far indicate that Tualang honey has mulple health

benets. However, many more clinical studies are required to explore and capture

the full range of potenal benets of Tualang honey for human beings.

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LIst Of RefeReNces:

1. Aptherapy Internet Course (hp://www.apitherapy.com).

2. Erejuwa, O.O.; Sulaiman, S.A.; Wahab, M.S.; Sirajudeen, K.N.S.; Salleh, M.S.; Gurtu, S.

(2011). Comparison of anoxidant eects of honey, glibenclamide, meormin, and

their combinaons in the kidneys of streptozotocin-induced diabec rats. Int. J. Mol.

Sci., 12, 829-843.

3. Erejuwa, O.O.; Gurtu, S.; Sulaiman, S.A.; Ab Wahab, M.S.; Sirajudeen, K.N.S.; Salleh,

M.S. (2010). Hypoglycemic and anoxidant eects of honey supplementaon in

streptozotocin-induced diabec rats. Int. J. Vitam. Nutr. Res. 80, 74-82.

4. Erejuwa, O.O.; Sulaiman, S.A.; Wahab, M.S.; Sirajudeen, K.N.S.; Salleh, M.S.; Gurtu, S.

(2011), Glibenclamide or meormin combined with honey improves glycemic control

in streptozotocin-induced diabec rats. Int. J. Biol. Sci. 7, 244-252.

5. Fauzi AN, Norazmi MN, Yaacob NS(2010). Tualang honey induces apoptosis and

disrupts the mitochondrial membrane potenal of human breast and cervical cancer

cell lines. Food and Chemical Toxicology. 49(4):871-878

6. Ghashm A, Othman N, Khaak M, Ismail N, Saini R (2010): Anproliferave eect of

Tualang honey on oral squamous cell carcinoma and osteosarcoma cell lines. BMC

Complementary and Alternave Medicin. 10:49.

7. Honey Science Network (hp://www.honeynetwork.kk.usm.my/)

8. Kishore RK, Halim AS, Syazana MSN, Sirajudeen KNS. Tualang honey has higher

phenolic content and greater radical scavenging acvity compared with other honey

sources. Nutrion Research 2011;31:322-325.

9. Mohamed M, Sirajudeen KNS, Swamy M, Yaacob NS, Sulaiman SA. Studies on the

anoxidant properes of Tualang honey of Malaysia. African Journal of Tradional,

Complementary and Alternave medicines 2010;7(1):59-63.

10. Mat Saad Arman Zaharil, Wan Azman Wan Sulaiman, Ahmad Sukari Halim, Mohd

Yussof Shah Jumaat and Jaafar Hasnan (2011). The Ecacy of Tualang Honey

in Comparison to Silver in Dressing Wounds in Rats. Journal of ApiProduct and

ApiMedical Science 3 (1): 45 53

11. Md. Ibrahim Khalil, Mahaneem Mohamed, Syed Mohsin Sahil Jamalullail, Nadia

Alam, Si Amrah Sulaiman (2011). Evaluaon of Radical Scavenging Acvity and

Colour Intensity of Nine Malaysian Honeys of Dierent Origin. Journal of ApiProduct

and ApiMedical Science 3 (1): 04 11.

12. Si Amrah Sulaiman, Habsah Hasan, Zakuan Zainy Deris, Mohd Suhaimi Abdul

Wahab, Ruhana Che Yusof, Nyi Nyi Naing and Nor Haya Othman (2011). The Benet

of Tualang Honey in Reducing Acute Respiratory Symptoms Among Malaysian Hajj

Pilgrims: A Preliminary Study Journal of ApiProduct and ApiMedical Science 3 (1):

38 44.

13. Si SM Zaid, Si A Sulaiman, Kuulebbai NM Sirajudeen, Nor H Othman (2010). The

eects of tualang honey on female reproducve organs, bia bone and hormonal

prole in ovariectomised rats - animal model for menopause. BMC Complementary

and Alternave Medicine. 10:82

14. Tan HT, Rahman RA, Gan SH, Halim AS, Hassan SA, Sulaiman SA, Kirnpal-Kaur

BS. The anbacterial properes of Malaysian Tualang honey against wound and

enteric microorganisms in comparison to manuka honey. BMC Complementary andAlternave Medicine 2009;9:34-37.

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Bioavi o b produ in thailand

Chanpen Chanchao

Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, Chulalongkorn University,

Phaya Thai Rd., Patumwan, Bangkok 10330 Thailand,

corresponding address: [email protected]

Bees are the insects, with which humans since long have been most familiar with.

People learnt to consume honey before 7,000 B.C., as we know due to a drawing

from the Mesolithic era, found on a cave wall in Spain. The picture presents a man

climbing to the top of a tall tree in order to hunt a bee hive. It is believed that people

knew how to consume honey for its sweetness long before they learned how to

obtain and consume sugar from plants such as coconut, sugar cane or ripe fruits(Crane, 1975). Other than honey, interesng economic bee products are propolis,

royal jelly, wax, bee venom and bee pollen.

Thai people have known honeybees for a long me. Since the Sukho Thai era of the

country, the word of honeybee in Thai was at the beginning created to be one of

forty-four Thai leers. Also, Thai people have since long known how to apply honey

in tradional medicine (Wongsiri, 1989).

Honey can increase the income of the country quite well. In 2011, Raanawannee

and Chanchao reported that although bees were distributed throughout Thailand,

there was not enough amount of honey to cover demand. Thus, we had to import

honey from abroad. It looked like that the demand to consume honey kept increasing.

In 2008, honey at 1.79 tons with the value of 0.41 million baht was imported to the

country. But in 2010, honey imports had already increased to more than 250 tons

with a total value of 8.57 million baht.

In Thailand, the diversity of honeybees is high. There are four nave honeybees

which are Apis cerana, A. orea, A. dorsata, and A. andreniformis. Also, there is

one imported species, which is A. mellifera (Wongsiri et al., 2000). Besides, there

are more than 30 species of sngless bees. The one species that is mostly popular

managed in a fruit garden is Tetragonula laeviceps (Chanchao, in press). The

taxonomy of sngless bee is complex but the most unique character of each species

can be seen from the shape of its hive entrance (Figure 1).

Since the taste of sngless honey is bier, it has been much more popular used in

tradional medicine than cooking. Other than honey, propolis of sngless bees has

been a miracle thing to use in tradional medicine as it will be menoned later in

the arcle.

Most popular among consumers is the honey produced by the giant honeybee, A.

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dorsata, and therefore this honey is the most expensive. Briey, about this honeybee,

not only its body is the largest, but it also builds the largest hive as a single open

frame. They like hanging their hive on a branch of tall trees, an eve of a building, a

steep cli, or even on a high water tank. Although it seems to be that this bee is the

most aggressive, it is the most aracve for bee hunters. The unique behavior of this

bee is that oen a lot of colonies are aggregated in one bee tree (Figure 2).

In tradional medicine in Thailand, bee products from both sngless bee and

the giant honeybee can provide many bioacvies. For example, propolis of the

sngless bee Tetragonula laeviceps, both in the form of crude extract and parally

puried extract, can provide anproliferave acvity against ve cancer cell lines

of colon cancer, stomach cancer, lung cancer, hepac cancer, and breast cancer

(Umthong et al., 2011). In addion, both water and methanolic extracts of propolis

of the sngless bee has proven to present anmicrobial acvity with the relave

order of sensivity of four microbes from most to least sensive, S. aureus > E.

coli >> C. albicans >>> A. niger (Umthong et al., 2009). Honey of both sngless bee

and the giant honeybee could provide the anmicrobial acvity against the earlier

menoned microorganisms (Chanchao, 2009a; b).

However, bioacvies of bee products also largely depend on external in parcular

geographic - factors, since these aect the distribuon of plants which are nectar

sources for the bees (Kujumgiev et al., 1999).

Rrn

Chanchao, C. (2009a). Anmicrobial acvity by Trigona laeviceps(sngless bee) honey

from Thailand. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 25(3): 364-369.

Chanchao, C. (2009b) Properes and anmicrobial acvity ofApis dorsatahoney from

Thailand. Pakistan Journal of Medical Sciences. 25(2): 313-318.

Chanchao, C. (2012). Bioacvies of honey and propolis fromTetragonula laeviceps

in Thailand, In: Pot Honey: A Legacy of Stingless Bees, P. Vit and S. R.M. Pedro,

(Ed.), Springer, New York, USA, in press.

Crane, E. 1975. Honey: A comprehensive survey. Heinemann (in coop. with IBRA),

London, U.K.

Kujumgiev, A., Tsvetkova, I., Serkedjieva, Y., Bankova, V., Christov, R., and Popov, S. (1999).

Anbacterial, anfungal and anviral acvity of propolis of dierent geographic origin.

Journal of Ethnopharmacology. 64: 235-240.

Raanawannee, A. and Chanchao, C. (2011). Bee Diversity in Thailand and the Applicaons

of Bee Products, In: Changing Diversity in Changing Environment,

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Figure legends

Figure 1.The shape of hive entrance from

two dierent sngless bees (A and B).

Photo by Chanchao.

Figure 3. Bees like foraging of pollen

of (A) bier bush or Siam weed

(Eupotorium odortum L.) and (B) Mexican

sunower weed (Tithonia diversifolia).

Photo by Chanchao.

Figure 2. An aggregaon of many

hives of the giant honeybees on one

bee tree in Nan province, Thailand.

The circle indicates the aggregaon.

Photo by Chanchao.

O. Grillo and G. Venora, (Ed.), 133-162, InTech, ISBN 978-953-307-796-3, Vienna, Austria,

available from: hp://www.intechopen.com/arcles/show/tle/bee-diversity-in-

thailand-and-the-applicaons-of-bee-products.

Umthong, S., Puthong, S., and Chanchao, C. (2009) Trigona laeviceps propolis from

Thailand: anmicrobial, anproliferave and cytotoxic acvies. The American Journal of

Chinese Medicine. 37: 855-865.

Umthong, S., Phuwapraisirisan, P., Puthong, S., and Chanchao, C. (2011) In vitro

anproliferave acvity of parally puried Trigona laeviceps propolis from Thailand

on human cancer cell lines. BMC Complementary and Alternave Medicine. 11: 37. doi:

10.1186/1472-6882-11-37

Wongsiri, S. (1989). Biology of honeybees. Ton-Or Co. Ltd, Bangkok, Thailand (in Thai).

Wongsiri, S., Chanchao, C., Deowanish, S., Aemprapa, S., Chaiyapong, T., Petersen, S.,

and Leepitakrat, S. (2000). Honeybee diversity and beekeeping in Thailand. Bee World.81: 20-29.

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Nurional/halh valu o b polln and bway o handl and prrv

By Phung Huu Chinh and Le Quang Trung

Bee Research and Development Center

19-Truckhe, Dong Da, Hanoi, Vietnam

Bee pollen gathered by bees is the male seed of ower blossoms. While gathering

pollen, the bees use the pollen baskets on their hind legs to mix the pollen with

their own digesve enzymes and liquid into pollen granules, before transporng

these to their nest. Honeybees and sngless bees usually store pollen in comb-cells

or pots, where the pollen is mixed with honey and lacc-acid fermented to change

the normal granulated bee pollen into the state of beebread. Bee pollen especially

benet the improvement of the health and tness of human beings. This invaluable

nutrion has been used since ancient me and was well known to, for example, theChinese, Egypans, Romans and Greeks. More recently, bee pollen, for its numerous

therapeuc properes, has been increasingly applied in new treatments of various

diseases as well.

CHEMICAL COMPOSITION OF BEE POLLEN

Bee pollen is composed of nutrionally valuable substances including protein,

carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals:

7-35% of protein, 25% of which is the complete protein.

About 5% and there are 32-36% of primarily simple sugars.

About a dozen of vitamins (B-vitamins, vitamins A, C, D, E and powerful

phytochemicals (carotenoids and bioavonoids) make the bee pollen a valuable

source of anoxidants.

About 28 minerals (the principal of K, Na, Ca, Mg, P, S), and various trace

elements (A1, B, C1, Cu, I, Fe, Mn, Ni, Si, Ti and Zn).

Hundred of enzymes or co-enzymes, 14 benecial fay acids, various growth

regulators (auxins, brassins, gibberellines, kinins), as well as growth inhibitors.

HUMAN HEALTH BENEFITS FROM BEE POLLEN CONSUMPTION

Bee pollen were already documented a long me ago as to oer various health

benets, which both improve human health and treat numerous diseases and

illnesses. Some signicant health improvements include digesve assimilaon,appete, haemoglobin content, sexual prowess (Ridi et al., 1960). In addion, one

who consumes bee pollen could be cured from serious diseases such as male sterility,

anemia, high blood pressure, endocrine disorders, and prostate cancer (Ridi et al.,

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1960; Sharma and Singh, 1980, Yao-Dong Wu & Yi-Jia Lou, 2007). Consumpon of

bee pollen, however, may cause several minor site eects such as nausea, stomach

upsets or allergic reacons.

COLLECTION, DRYING AND STORAGE OF GRANULATED BEE POLLEN FROMKEEPING BEES

Granulated bee pollen is mainly collected by keepers of the European bee, Apis

mellifera, with a set of pollen trap and tray that is assembled in the entrance of

each hive. Pollen pellets are removed from pollen baskets of the worker bees

and dropped to the tray before the bees get through the pollen trap. Fresh bee

pollen contains high moisture content and must be dried to less than 10% just aer

collecon using a regular light bulb with capacity of 20W and 220V. For solar drying,

the pollen itself should be covered to avoid exposing to sunlight and overheang.

Aer drying, the pollen needs to be cleaned from all foreign maers. Like other

foods rich in protein, bee pollen rapidly loses its nutrional value when storedincorrectly. Dietz (1975) suggested that when be dried to 5-10% of moisture content

under 40-45C, pollen can be kept at room temperature for several months.

COLLECTION AND STORAGE OF BEE BREAD FROM WILD BEES

Pollen can also be harvested from Apis dorsata colonies, but only in the form of

bee bread. In an A. dorsata colony, bee bread is usually stored in large quanes

at the mouth part of their comb, which is between the honey and brood porons

(Figure 1A). Bee bread collectors can use a sharp knife to cut beebread part beforetaking the honey poron. The bee bread of this giant bee has high value for human

health, because it is much more readily absorbed than granulated bee pollen. The

bee bread has already been processed by the bees for storage, with the addion

of various enzymes and honey, which subsequently ferments. (This type of lacd

acid fermentaon is similar to that in yoghurts and renders the end product more

digesble and enriched with new nutrients.)

In addion,A. dorsatabeebread is found free of heavy metals or pescides, for the

bees collect pollen from such non-polluted places as mountainous areas, naonalparks etc. However, so far, almost all bee bread from A. dorsatais wasted during

honey collecon, meaning the loss of a lot of money.

In the case of bee bread from sngless bees, they usually store pollen in pots that

are separated and dierent in color from the brood pots. These pollen pots can,

therefore, be harvested without destroying the nest.

A further advantage of bee bread is that, when kept in a freezer or refrigerator, its

nutrional value will stay intact for a very considerable me.

Finally, for storage and to bring it to the market, bee bread ideally should be packed

in large-mouth boles, in which it is mixed with honey (Figure 1B).

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Figure1. Bee bread parts inApis dorsatacomb (A) and

bee bread storage (B)

Rrn

Dietz, A. 1975. Nutrion of the adult honeybee. In: The

hive and the honeybee. Dadant & Sons, Hamilton, Ill.,

p.125-156

Dietz, A. and Stevenson, H.R. 1980. Inuence of long-

term storage on the nutrional value of frozen pollen

for brood rearing of honeybees. Apidologie, 11:143-

151

Ridi, M.S. el, Moy;, A. el, Khalifa, K. and Solimen, L. 1960. Gonado tropic hormones in pollen

grains of the date palm. Z. Naturf. 156(1): 45-49

Sharma, H.C. and Singh, O.P. 1983. Medicinal properes of some lesser known but important

bee products. Proc. 2nd Int. Conf. Apiculture in Trop. Climates, IBRA, New Delhi, March 1980.

694-702.

Yao-Dong Wu and Yi-Jia Lou, 2007. A steroid fracon of chloroform extract from bee pollen

of Brassica campestris induces apoptosis in human prostate cancer PC-3 cells. PhytotherapyResearch, Vol. 21, Issue (11): 10871091

Photo by Phung Huu Chinh

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Inrnaonal sandard or Hony:An Iu o Inluivn

Surendra Raj Joshi

Coordinator-Working Group on Asian Honeybees Honey

Internaonal Honey Commission

[email protected]

The Codex Alimentarius Commission has set certain constuents as quality criteria

for honey. These include moisture, sucrose content, fructose and glucose content,

water insoluble solids, diastase acvity, HMF (hydroxymethylfurfural), electrical

conducvity and contaminants of heavy metals and pescide residues. The minimum

or maximum allowable limits are set for each of these criteria. For example, the

maximum permissible level of moisture content is < 20g/100 g for general honey

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In order to assess the situaon beer, the moisture and HMF content of honey

from Apis dorsata bees has been studied in Nepal. A total of 59 honey samples

were collected by cung a piece of honeycomb directly from the colonies, and

samples were analyzed by following harmonized methods of the European Honey

Commission.

According to the ndings, the moisture content ofApis dorsata honey ranged from

21 to 26g/100g with an average of 23.7g/100. The results conrm the earlier reports

(Joshi et al, 2000 and references therein): the honey produced byApis dorsata bees

holds higher moisture content than the maximum allowable content set by the

Codex Alimentarius Commission. With regards to HMF, some honey samples contain

up to 92 mg/kg (56.1 mg/kg on average) HMF, which is quite high than the maximum

limit (40mg/kg) of CAC. Laude et al (1991) in the Philippines and Wakhle and Pal

(2000) in India also recorded a very high HMF content (90.6+198.1 mg/kg and 8

110 mg/kg respecvely) forApis dorsata honey.

Honey hunters and beekeepers oen face the problems in sellingApis dorsata honey

or are oered very low price because of its higher moisture content and high HMF

content. However, the large companies and honey exporters process to dehydrate

and blend the honey and make a good prot. The standards set for moisture and

HMF content aect those poor honey gatherers/small traders who cannot aord a

dehydraon machine or honey processing plant.

Against above backdrops and keeping in view the diversity of bees and oral

resources, it is suggested that the quality standard may be reconsidered. For

example, the limit of moisture content (20%) might be okay forApis cerana andApis

melliferabut it should be higher forApis laboriosa andApis dorsata honey. Similarly,

the limit of HMF may be set higher for Apis dorsata honey, as this bee species is

found in sub/tropical region of Asia. It should be noted that HMF is not a harmful

substance in levels found in food. Many food items sweetened with high fructose

corn syrups, e.g. carbonated so drinks, can have levels of HMF between 100 and

1,000 mg/kg. It should also be noted that the honey produced in subtropical regions

to be well over 100 mg/kg in HMF, which is mostly due to the ambient temperatures

(over 35C) that honey comb is exposed to.

It is further suggested that the honey samples should be analysed from all bee

species and from dierent geographical areas and results used as a basis for seng

new species specic grade standards.

Rrn

Joshi, S. R., Pechhacker, H., Von der Ohe, W., Willam, A. 2000. Physico-chemical Characteriscs

ofApis dorsata,Apis cerana andApis mellifera Honey from Chitwan District, Central Nepal. InApidologie 31:367-375.

Laude, VT; Nacgel, L; Horn, H (1991) Die Physiko-Chemischen Eigenschaen PhilippinischerHonige. In Apidologie 22:371-380

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Wakhle, D.M. and Pal, N. (2002) Honey and Hive Products in India Present Status. InProceedings of the 7th Internaonal Conference on Tropical Bees: Management and Diversity,

and 5th AAA Conference, Chiang Mai, Thailand (March 19-25, 2000), IBRA, Cardi, UK.

Ladder and rope set to get honey from the

comb of Apis dorsata, nesng under the

roof of a private building in Chitwan, Nepal.

Photo by Surendra Raj Joshi

A. dorsata bees collecng

nectar from orange trumpet

vine - Pyrostegia venusta

[lan name italics - idem Apis

dorsata

Photo by Surendra Raj Joshi

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15.from for Ga o sophiad Mark: hflow oApis dorsataHoney in Indonesia

Johnny W. Utama, Dian Niaga, Jakarta

PHILOSOPHY

Dian Niaga is in charge of the handling and markeng of forest honey for JMHI

members on the naonal level. Following DNs triple P philosophy, there are 3 major

issues that maer, in order to get this right: product, planet and prot.

1. Product

Under this aspect, quality is the top priority

and hygienic handling of the product at all

stages is key. For example:

Post harvest, slicing the comb andltering is needed, while hand-squeezing to separate honey and waxis no longer acceptable.

Honey is collected, transportedand sold in clean special purposecontainers and boles.

Honey should be 100% pure and noforeign substances or adulteraonare permied.

Overheang is a big no. Even if watercontent has to be reduced, drying is

to be done at very moderate temperatures only.

2. Planet

Introduce and maintain sustainable harvesng systems. The most important

element in the shi to sustainability is the acceptance of a rule that only the

honey part of a hive should be cut, hence leaving the brood part behind on

the branch. If done this way, the bee queen, followed by the worker bees

will abscond only briey, but then come back to tend aer the larvae and

to immediately start to rebuild the hive. The benet of careful harvesng

during the day is also clear for all to see: one can harvest honey more than

once during a season. Aer occasional early objecons, eventually, near all

of harvesters do adopt this system.

Fully involve communies in forest conservaon and re prevenon eorts.

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Where need be, encourage eorts towards forest rehabilitaon, with special

aenon for the provision of nesng trees and sucient nectar resources

for the bees.

3. Prot

DN aims to give organized honey collectors an incenve for improvements.

Therefore a policy is maintained to:

Buy at a higher price and

Share prots with the honey collecng communies.

WHERE, WITH WHOM AND WHEN

JMHI communies are spread over much of the country (see map), while mostly

in and around naonal parks and/or in remote areas, where honey is a viablealternave income to destrucve acvies, such as illegal logging, poaching, etc..

As the bees migrate, e.g. from higher to lower alleviaons and back again, seasonality

of the local harvest is a given, but, as table 1 shows, within the JMHI network as a

whole, there is praccally a year round ow of honey.

THE CONSUMER

Lets go back once more to the ones who eventually will enjoy the product.

1. Where are these consumers to be found - locally or overseas? The answer can

be short: generally speaking , beer stay local, because the price is not worth

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the eort of going into exports. In fact, currently the

domesc retail price can be up to 3.5 X higher. In

Indonesia, forest honey is much valued as a high class

(and healthy) delicacy, while in Europe, for instance,

it would just be some liquid insect product

Meanwhile, Indonesias rapidly growing middle class

(see gure 1) also has increasing purchasing power.

2. Unique selling points

Dierent sales arguments may appeal to dierent

groups of consumers. For example:

Variety: dierent micro climate/ecological niches provide dierent nectars,

which subsequently results in a wide range of tastes and therefore in amplechoice!

It is clean and pure natural.

Buying the product is a statement: pro- environment, biodiversity and

culture, while it also contributes to the alleviaon of poverty.

In order to be in the posion to guarantee the above claims, traceability is key.

While Dian Niaga keeps track of the origin of dierent batches of procuredhoney, concise informaon in relaon to the product is rounely provided on

the back of boles.

Meanwhile, we are catering to customers from the top to the lower end of

the market (the laer including taxi drivers). Certainly those at the top end are

choosy and they would like to know more about what exactly is in that bole

they are about to purchase. Apart from above menoned quality related issues,

quesons put forward, include:

What is the impact of the enzymes in honey on peoples health?

What about anoxidants?

Is it advisable for infants, diabecs or people

with heart problems to indulge on the stu?

The more we are able to address those concerns,

the happier our consumers!

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Indignou u o hony in h Blu Mounain,Western Ghats, India

Robert Leo

Keystone Foundaon

Honey gathering by indigenous people has been an ancient pracse that requires

both skill and knowledge. Consumpon of honey as a food and medicine has been

a common pracse among many cultures across the world, while honey forms an

important part of many social, cultural and religious rituals. In many sociees honey is

oen the rst food given to the new born. Honey has also been used as a preservave

and fermenng agent in many cuisines of the world. The use of honey and bees wax

for cras and magic has likewise been well documented. Honey has for long beenknown as a sign of prosperity - a land owing with milk and honey is proverbially

known to be a prosperous land. Such is the signicance of honey throughout history.

The ancient Indian system of medicine, Ayurdeva, which has a 5000 year old

tradion, uses honey in many of its prescripons. In an interview published on the

web a renowned ayurvedic physician talks of the role of honey in Ayurveda treatment

(hp://www.cseindia.org). Dr.D Ramanathan, director of the Sitaram Ayurveda

Pharmacy Limited & Specialty Hospital in Thrissur, says that honey is referred to by

many names, the most common being madhu, makshika, madwikam, kshaudram,

saradham, vantham, varadi, bringavantham and pushparasolbhavam. This can be

understood as an indicator of its widespread use. The doctor also lists eight dierent

types of honey as used in ayurveda:

1. Makshikam: Used in the treatment of eye diseases, hepas, piles, asthma,cough and tuberculosis

2. Bhraamaram: Used in the treatment when blood is vomited

3. Kshoudram: Used in the treatment of diabetes

4. Pauthikam: Used in the treatment of diabetes and urinary infecon

5. Chathram: Used in the treatment of worm infestaon, when blood is vomitedand diabetes

6. Aardhyam: Eecve for eye diseases, cough and anaemia

7. Ouddalakam: Increases taste and swarasudhi. Used in the treatment of leprosyand poisoning cases

8. Daalam: It increases digeson and helps in the treatment of cough, vomingand diabetes.

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Finally, in the interview the doctor also menons that honey from the wild has

always been preferred especially when used for medicinal purposes.

In the Indian subconnent honey from the wild is gathered from 4 main groups of

honey bees Apis dorsata, Apis cerana,Apis orea and Sngless bees belonging

to the genus Trigona. Gathering of honey from the wild has been a tradional

occupaon of the indigenous people who live close to forests and other natural

areas. While large quanes of honey are collected fromApis dorsataandA. cerana

only small quanes are procured from A. orea and the sngless bees and these

are highly valued by the indigenous people. Therefore, rarely is honey of sngless

bees sold.

The Blue Mountains are part of the Nilgiri Biosphere Reserve (NBR), which

extends over 5000 sq. kms of diverse forested landscapes. There are more than 20

indigenous groups who are residents of the NBR. The predominant honey gatherers

of the NBR are the Kurumbas, Kaunyakas, Todas, Irulas and Jenukurumba. The

name Jenukurumba literally translates as Honey Kurumba. While a large poron of

the honey that is collected is traded, in this chapter the diverse ways in which the

honey gatherers themselves use honey are documented. This informaon has been

collected over the years through both formal and informal conversaons that have

taken place with the honey hunters of the Blue Mountains.

Many mes honey gatherers have menoned that honey is the best way to get rid

of hunger and especially when they are on a long day in the forest, they are happy

to consume honey which is available since it keeps the hunger pangs away and helps

them walk connuously. Eang the processed and ltered honey is not part of the

indigenous way, they prefer to eat the honey directly from the comb, mixed with

the brood of the bees. This has been an ancient pracse and forms an important

component of the protein needs of indigenous diets. Honey mixed with millets or

Amaranthus seed our or tubers (Dioscorea spp.) or Jackfruit or roasted jackfruit

seeds are considered delicacies and eaten on special occasions and days. Honey

is never cooked and only in some cases used as a sweetener for black coee, while

fruits mixed with honey are fermented and used to brew alcohol.

Indigenous people have also menoned some medicinal uses of honey, among

which:

The bark of Jamun (Syzygium sp.) and Neem (Azadirachta indica) mixed withhoney is good for deworming in children. This mixture is also given to treatintesnal disorders and indigeson.

Honey taken on an empty stomach is believed to be an eecve cure for throatinfecons. Another cure for throat infecons is a mixture of honey, holy ash and

limestone powder, which has to be applied externally.

Applicaon of honey on burns helps the wound heal faster.

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Honey is believed to cure colds and coughs.

Milk and honey is taken as a growth smulant.

Lemon juice and honey is consumed to aid in weight loss.

Honey ofApis orea is given to young children to cure speech disabilies.

Honey mixed with cinnamon bark powder is taken to purify blood and reducehypertension.

A few drops of honey are put into the eye before sleep at night to removeimpuries and infecons.

Honey of the sngless bee is mixed with mothers milk to cure certain typesof eye infecons.This honey is also given to new born babies and pregnantmothers to improve their nutrion.

Burnt peacock feathers mixed with honey has been recorded as a medicineused by certain communies.

Bamboo roots are powdered and mixed with honey and eaten, this is believedto cure stomach aches and redness.

Besides honey, as menoned earlier, eang of the brood is much more common

among indigenous people. The capped brood mixed with honey is eaten to

strengthen the respiratory system and rib cage. Uncapped brood is eaten by women

to strengthen their pelvic bones especially during pregnancy. The uncapped brood isalso eaten to improve eyesight and is believed to delay the aging process.

Honey of theApis orea and Sngless bees is believed to be highly medicinal and the

gatherers say this is because these smaller bees forage on herbs and shrubs which

have medicinal properes.

In the many interacons with indigenous people in many regions, honey stands out

as one product that has much cultural, spiritual and social value for the gatherers.

It is also one of the important wild products that has a number of uses in modernand tradional Indian systems of medicine like Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani (Greek)

and other folk tradions. While the uses remain high, awareness needs to be

increased on the possible threats to bee populaons. These threats may not only

be from overharvesng but may also be a result of loss of nesng habitats and sites,

diversion of water sources, errac climate condions etc. When bee populaons are

threatened the livelihoods of honey gatherers and their cultural links are severely

aected. This may lead to erosion of an ancient way of life. So the next me one

takes a spoonful of honey one needs to think about supporng iniaves that

promote sustainable harvests of honey from the wild.

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Brood eated as fresh from comb First taste of brood

Fresh brood is eaten with honey Fresh brood is eaten with honey

Brood is cooked and eaten as breakfast Brood is squeezed in boiling water and

drained to get solids and cooked as curry

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Hony Laundring:th impa on Halh and Nurion

By Pandurang Hegde

Appiko Movement, Sirsi, Karnataka, India

Money laundering is a well-established technique to spend black money generated

through illegal means. Following the paern of money laundering, wholesale

traders, especially those imporng and exporng honey have invented a unique

technique to repack, and reroute banned illegal honey into the legal market through

sophiscated laundering operaons. In this paper, we make an aempt to review

the process of honey laundering, asking ourselves: who are the players and what is

the route; what are the implicaons on health and nutrion; and nally, what is therelevance of all of this forApis dorsataforest honey?

Honey is presumed to be a natural product, produced through nectar from owering

plants. Nevertheless, over the years, bee keeping has developed into an organized

industry, leading to the movement of bees across connents and, in the process,

imporng pests and diseases from one region to another. In order to control these,

medicines are administered on the diseased bee colonies. The excessive use of

medicines resulted in honey being produced with trace elements of those same

medicines. This laid the foundaon for conversion of honey, from being a natural toa rather unnatural product.

Inspired by the industrial mode of honey producon in Europe, the USA, and in

Lan America, China launched a massive bee-keeping program to increase honey

producon through Apis Mellifera. Supported and subsidized by the Chinese

government, the industrial mode of beekeeping was able to deliver a honey

revoluon in 2001, producing 254,000 tons of honey and hence becoming the

biggest producer of honey in the world. At the same me, it was able to produce

the cheapest honey imaginable, at a mere USD 1,300 per ton. With very lile localconsumpon of honey, most of the producon was available for export as it invaded

the markets in the European Union and in the USA. However, in the process of

becoming the worlds lead producer of honey, Chinese beekeepers had to resort to

chemical methods, using ample anbiocs, in order to control various bee diseases.

Obviously, the nal product did carry ample trace elements of these chemicals.

The successful Chinese honey export industry was hit by a ban from its major

imporng partners. In 2002, EU custom inspectors detected in a shipment of

Chinese honey the anbioc chloramphenicol, which is a potenal carcinogen.About 30 other consignments were found to have trace elements of broad-spectrum

anbiocs like streptomycin and tetracycline, as well as of pescides such as lindane.

This led to the ban of honey imports from China. In the same year, the USA also

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banned honey imports from China, not in relaon to pescide contaminaon, but

as an an-dumping policy. The Chinese were dumping their honey at rock boom

prices and the US put an exorbitant import duty of 221 per cent on the product.

With the bans in place, China was le with too much excess honey and it had to

nd new ways of geng rid of the stockpile. In order to address the situaon, the

Chinese evolved a unique road map that led to Honey Laundering across the world.

The rejected consignments subsequently found its way to markets in Asia and

elsewhere. However, producon was so big that it could only be absorbed by those

countries that had great demand and appete for honey, with other words, North

America and Europe. Thus, the market was known, but the ban was an impediment.

In order to evade this ban, Chinese exporters set up a systemac racket to subvert

the ban. First they exported the tainted honey to countries like Russia, Mongolia,

Australia, Thailand, Indonesia, and even to non-honey producing countries like

Singapore. This honey was ltered and mixed with other local honey and then

repackaged as a product originang from that country to be exported to the USA

and Europe! This set the stage for honey laundering across the world.

It is interesng to note the case of Australia in the context of honey laundering.

In the year 2000, the Chinese honey export to Australia was only 6 tons, but this

increased to 2,300 tons in the year 2002. In addion, Australia supposedly imported

1,500 tons of honey from the concrete jungle state Singapore in 2002! This was

blended and repackaged to be exported to the USA.

The technique of honey laundering was to hide the origin of Chinese honey through

mulple imports and exports as well as through blending with local honeys. In many

Asian countries the wild forest honey from Apis Dorsata came to the rescue of

chemically tainted Chinese honey!

The major beneciaries of honey laundering, apart from the Chinese bee keeping

industry, are its illegal trading partners in the imporng countries. They were in

league with the former so that the subverng acvies could not be detected and

the consignments were able to pass the customs of countries, which banned theseproducts. The origin of honey was concealed, and it looked as if the honey originated

from dierent countries, and there was no reason to doubt the origin as well as

contaminaon. The laundering of honey connued unabated form 2002 to 2009,

involving the turnover of USD 40 million when it was eventually detected by US

authories who were able to arrest some of those involved.

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Furthermore, it is reported that the Chinese also resorted to create counterfeit

products made of malt sweeteners, corn syrup and jaggery (gur sugar) with a

bit of actual honey. This adulterated honey is shipped to countries like India to be

repacked and sold there and elsewhere.

IMPACT ON HEALTH AND NUTRITION

Though the amount of pescide chloramphenicol found in honey is miniscule, it is

claimed to have a severe negave, and even potenally fatal, impact on the health

of people, as over-exposure to the substance can, in some cases, lead to aplasc

anemia. Also the presence of lead in honey samples is a serious concern that has

called the aenon of health experts. Unfortunately, the tests are conducted only

when the honey is exported to developed countries, and even there the authories

are unable to detect the contaminaon in early stages. Even when detected there

is delay in sharing the ndings across the connents. This makes criminal honey

laundering easy to do, but dicult to trace.

Furthermore, it is interesng to note the way honey laundering has impacted the

quality of honey in developing countries, where tesng is rarely done. In order to

asses the presence of anbiocs in honey sold in India, a civil society organizaon,

the Center for Science and Environment (CSE), conducted a study of honey brands

sold in India. This study was conducted in 2009, procuring random samples of 12

brands of honey sold in Delhi, the capital of India. Out of these 12 brands, 10 were

from Indian manufacturers and two were foreign brands one each from Australia

and Switzerland.

The results are prey shocking, indicang the amount of presence of pescides

as well as it shows the dual standards adopted by the developed naons that are

exporng honey to developing countries.

Out of 12 samples tested, 11 had high presence of anbiocs1 in them and only one

Indian brand was free form anbiocs, which was from a small local supplier. Out of

these ten Indian brands, 9 of them had mulple presence of anbiocs, indicang

the blending of several honey sourced form dierent sources and dierent regions.What was especially shocking in terms of foreign brands, was that the Swiss brand

of honey had the highest amount of anbiocs of all. Hence, this product, by a wide

margin, failed to meet EU standards, as well as those of their own country. Similarly,

the Australian brand had the presence of 3 anbiocs and failed to meet the home

country standards.

1. The anbiocs the study found in honey samples are not only used to control bee diseases, but are also applied as

colony growth promoters by large commercial beekeepers.

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Some of the anbiocs present in the samples are tetracyclines, used against

foul brood disease. Chronic exposure to oxytetracycline can lead to blood related

disorders, liver injury and delayed blood coagulaon. It can damage teeth and

bones and may cause nasal cavies to erode. Children under seven years of age may

develop a discoloraon of the teeth. Some other chronic eects include increased

sensivity to the sun, wheezing and asthmac aacks.

Chloramphenicol, another anbioc found in the samples, is widely banned for food

producon purposes. It is a potenal carcinogen that can lead to organ damage or

bone marrow toxicity, while ampicillin (traces of which likewise were found in the

honey samples) might cause asthmac allergies, and other disorders.

The study clearly indicates that the branded honey is not pure and that it fails to

meet health and nutrional standards. While most of the samples contained harmful

substances, consumers were not told about the dangers and the poisonous contents

of the products.

These indicate the high risk of contaminated honey for the health of consumers,

who are innocent and buy according to the brand name. Honey, once a natural

product known for enhancing the health and nutrion is now contaminated and has

lost its aura. Despite this loss, most consumers are oblivious of harmful substances

in the honey and they connue to take the honey.

The bee keeping done at an industrial scale, is not only harmful to human beings, but

is also dangerous to the bees and to bee keepers themselves, as both are exposedto poisonous substances.

As the awareness about contaminated honey spreads across consumer organizaons,

it might have disastrous consequences for beekeepers and their livelihood. The

consumers might boyco the produce, bringing down prices and damaging the

reputaon of the beekeepers.

APIS DORSATA HONEY AND HONEY LAUNDERING

In Asia, the presence and output of a great amount of honey from the forest,

produced by wild Apis dorsatabees, played an instrumental role in rescuing the

tainted industrial honey. The tainted honey was blended with the forest honey

to reduce the impact of pescide residues, as well as to conceal the origin of the

source. This pracce helped a great deal in sales in the period from 2002 to 2009.

In this grim scenario of honey laundering, the only silver lining is the capacity of wild

forest honeyApis dorsatato show the world that it is sll pure and does not have

any trace elements of pescide residues. It is not suited for industrial producon, asit has to adhere to the seasons and nature for its producon, which is limited.

Meanwhile, there is a need to build a special brand for this pure wild honey in

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internaonal markets, showing its strength, as well as its contribuon to the

enhancement of the livelihoods of forest dwelling communies. Finally, the product

provides healthy nutrion for human beings as well as it enhances the biodiversity

needed to sustain the lives on this planet.

References:

Down To Earth, September 16-30, 2010, Magazine published from New Delhi, India

Honey laundering,

Cartoon Earl Paulo Diaz

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Photo Gallery

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th for Hony, Halh and Nurion sympoium i organizd by h for

Honey Network Indonesia (JMHI), together with Dian Niaga Jakarta and in

ollaboraon wih Manila-bad NtfP exhang Programm souh & souha

Aia (NtfP-eP).

th ympoium aim o har up-o-da inormaon on h nurion and

halh bn oApis dorsataand Trigona spp, hony, polln and propoli.

furhrmor, h haring will akpla in h onx o widr iu ang

or hony poion a a pialy nih produ

Documents

Forest Honey,, Health and Nutrition -Madhu Duniya 2