Honey FAQ : Is there any ‘Quick Test’ we can do at home to test the genuineness of honey?

    This is quite frustrating as it can be misleading to the consumer due to their knowledge of the tests behind it. For example, the TA level is the total enzyme antibacterial activity level that kills bacteria by producing hydrogen peroxide when the enzymes reacts with oxygen. One would presume this is against a range of bacteria, however it is only calculated by an inhibitory growth test on an agar plate of one bacteria only – Staphylococcus aureus – which lives in harmony on the skin and in the human body, but only causes problems when the immune system is suppressed (e.g. secondary respiratory disease), hormonal changes (e.g. skin/acne diseases) or as an antibiotic resistant strain if the body has been in contact with overuse of antibiotics (e.g. MRSA – medically resistant S. aureus).

    The TA test has only been carried out in vitro on an agar plate against one bacteria strain only. It has not been proven invivo within the human body with the exception of application on wounds to prevent sepsis.

    In general consumers will therefore assimilate TA testing as a medically certified universal antimicrobial remedy (i.e. antiviral, antifungal and antibacterial) but this has not been clinically proven. Notwithstanding, honeys contain a plethora of phenols and flavonoids as dictated by the plant nectar. These are phytochemicals produced by the plant to attract pollinators, detract predators and ensure the healthy immune system of the plant itself. These will vary for each individual plant and also where it grows. Research has shown that these have anti-inflammatory,antiviral, antibacterial and antifungal properties and promote cardiac health by affecting LDL cholesterol, but again these tests have mostly been invitro and only a few done in invivo in mice or transfused cells only. Manuka honey has only been medically certified for wound healing only – nothing else.