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IEH Honey Testing Labs

Honey Testing for Quality, Authenticity, Safety, and ComplianceĀ 

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Laboratory-style testing of honey using a latex glove to assess purity and flow characteristics.

WHAT WE DO

IEH Honey Testing Lab provides advanced expedited analytical services to help producers, importers, exporters, retailers, and brand owners evaluate honey quality, verify authenticity, substantiate origin claims, and meet regulatory or customer requirements.

From routine quality control to complex fraud investigations, our multidisciplinary testing capabilities support confident decision-making across the honey supply chain.

Honeycomb next to honey jar with polygon in background.

SERVICES OVERVIEW

Navigate between tabs to view our different services and capabilities.

Capabilites
A lab worker pipetting into a device.

Physical-Chemical Quality

Used for Codex/EU/US compliance, grading and process control. Evaluate composition, freshness, and grading parameters.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Moisture
    Supports shelf stability and quality specifications.
  • HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural)
    Indicator of heat exposure, storage conditions, and product age.
  • Diastase Activity
    Evaluates enzyme activity related to freshness and heat treatment.
  • Free Acidity/Titratable Acidity, Water Activity (Aw), and pH
    Assess stability and product condition.
  • Electrical Conductivity
    Supports differentiation between floral and honeydew honeys.
  • Color
    Used for grading and product characterization.
  • Density / Specific Gravity / Brix
    Routine compositional and process control metrics.
  • Insoluble Matter, Ash, Proline
    Additional markers supporting quality and compositional evaluation.
Laboratory worker wearing black nitrile gloves writing on clipboard.

Authenticity & Adulteration Tests

Detect undeclared sugars, syrups, mislabeling, and fraud.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • C3/C4 Sugar Adulteration Testing
    Ī“Ā¹Ā³C analysis of bulk honey and protein.
  • Sugar Profiling by HPL C
    Detects atypical carbohydrate patterns.
Artificial Bee Box with one slide of honey comb being taken out.

Residues & Contaminants

Screen for pesticides, drugs, and environmental contaminants, support regulatory compliance and risk assessment.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

Microbiology & Hygiene

While honey is generally low-risk, microbiological testing may be required depending on product use and customer specifications.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Microbial Indicators
  • Pathogen Testing
  • Osmophilic Yeasts (for high-moisture honey)
  • Shelf-life Studies
Laboratory worker taking a smell test of a red liquid in a cup using her nose.

Sensory & Other Specialized Tests

Support grading, certification, and dispute resolution.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

SERVICES OVERVIEW

Navigate between tabs to view our different services and capabilities.

Capabilites
A lab worker pipetting into a device.

Physical-Chemical Quality

Used for Codex/EU/US compliance, grading and process control. Evaluate composition, freshness, and grading parameters.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Moisture
    Supports shelf stability and quality specifications.
  • HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural)
    Indicator of heat exposure, storage conditions, and product age.
  • Diastase Activity
    Evaluates enzyme activity related to freshness and heat treatment.
  • Free Acidity/Titratable Acidity, Water Activity (Aw), and pH
    Assess stability and product condition.
  • Electrical Conductivity
    Supports differentiation between floral and honeydew honeys.
  • Color
    Used for grading and product characterization.
  • Density / Specific Gravity / Brix
    Routine compositional and process control metrics.
  • Insoluble Matter, Ash, Proline
    Additional markers supporting quality and compositional evaluation.
View or earth from space with array of satellites connecting each other.

Botanical & Geographical Origin

Origin testing supports floral claims, labeling declarations, and supply chain verification.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Melissopalynology (Pollen Analysis)
    Microscopic evaluation of pollen to support floral source identification.
  • Electrical Conductivity + Sensory Profiling
    Supports varietal typicity and compositional interpretation.
  • Stable Isotope Ratio Analysis (Ī“Ā¹Ā³C)
    Used in adulteration detection and certain origin-related investigations.
Laboratory worker wearing black nitrile gloves writing on clipboard.

Authenticity & Adulteration Tests

Detect undeclared sugars, syrups, mislabeling, and fraud.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • C3/C4 Sugar Adulteration Testing
    Ī“Ā¹Ā³C analysis of bulk honey and protein.
  • Sugar Profiling by HPL C
    Detects atypical carbohydrate patterns.
Artificial Bee Box with one slide of honey comb being taken out.

Residues & Contaminants

Screen for pesticides, drugs, and environmental contaminants, support regulatory compliance and risk assessment.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

Microbiology & Hygiene

While honey is generally low-risk, microbiological testing may be required depending on product use and customer specifications.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

  • Microbial Indicators
  • Pathogen Testing
  • Osmophilic Yeasts (for high-moisture honey)
  • Shelf-life Studies
Laboratory worker taking a smell test of a red liquid in a cup using her nose.

Sensory & Other Specialized Tests

Support grading, certification, and dispute resolution.

CAPABILITIES INCLUDE:

RESOURCES

Three types of honey in jars. Dark honey, light color honey, and solid honey comb.

WHITE PAPER

AOAC Official Method 998.12 Detecting C-4 Plant Sugars in Honey


Download White Paper ā†’

Honeycomb background with logo for National Honey Board in foreground.

NEWS

IEH is Now Part of the National Honey Board List of Labs


Read More ā†’

Honeycomb background with logo for National Honey Board in foreground.

NEWS

AOAC Official Method 998.12 Detecting C-4 Plant Sugars in Honey


Download White Paper

IEH Academy - Food Safety Training

Food safety training designed to ensure the safety of your products and procedures.
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Let's get in touch

This form is for business-related inquiries only. All other inquiries, including personnel-related requests, please contact IEH customer service at (206)522-5432. For sample analysis, please complete and send the Test Sample Submission Form to info@iehinc.com By filling out this information, you are adhering to ourĀ privacy policy.

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