Systematic multi-year surveillance of honey compliance and fraud in North Macedonia, 2020–2024

Abstract

Honey adulteration represents a significant food safety and economic concern globally, yet comprehensive data from North Macedonia remains lacking. This study evaluated 538 honey samples (391 domestic, 147 imported) collected between 2020 and 2024 for compliance with national and EU quality standards. Overall, 9.48% of samples failed at least one quality parameter, with domestic honey showing higher non-compliance (12.53%) than imported (1.4%). The primary causes of non-compliance were elevated hydroxymethylfurfural (64.7%) and reduced diastase activity (43.1%), indicating heat-related exposure. Among 16 samples failing C4 sugar analysis, 7 (43.8%) met all other regulatory requirements, suggesting sophisticated adulteration methods that evade routine testing. Statistical analysis revealed very strong associations between heat-related parameters. Temporal analysis showed declining overall non-compliance but increasing prevalence of diastase-related failures. These findings, representing the first systematic assessment of honey adulteration in North Macedonia, indicate that while basic market surveillance appears effective, current testing protocols may miss economically motivated adulteration. Implementation of routine C4 sugar analysis, particularly for samples passing conventional parameters, is essential for comprehensive fraud detection and consumer protection.