Qualidade do mel comercializado informalmente em São Luís, Maranhão

• DOI: https://doi.org/10.22533/at.ed.0062415029

• Palavras-chave: fraude, mel, análises físico-químicas

• Keywords: fraud, honey, physicochemical analysis

• Abstract: Honey is a product of high nutritional value formed from the nectar of flowers and of importance in human nutrition. The aim of this study was to assess the physical and chemical quality of honey sold informally in São Luís, Maranhão. To this end, 30 samples of honey from the city's fairs and markets, acquired during the dry and rainy seasons, were analyzed. The physicochemical analyses carried out were color, humidity, Brix level, total titratable acidity, fixed mineral residue and carbohydrates. The samples were also tested for fraud using the Fiehe test, Lund test, lugol test and diastase activity. It was observed that the samples analyzed suffered alterations to their physicochemical properties, especially during the dry season. These changes could indicate anything from inadequate storage conditions to fraud due to adulteration of the product.