Regulation of honey production critical for growth of industry - Beekeepers

The Coalition of Beekeepers Association (COABA) in the Brong Ahafo Region is pushing for the regulation and standardization of honey production and marketing in Ghana.

The association believes this is critical in preventing unwholesome products on the market whilst growing the honey business.

The association explained this in a press statement.

Coalition of Beekeepers Association

Press Release

The composition of honey has been shown to depend largely on its ?oral source, and also varies greatly according to its geographical origin. Honey can be used as a natural sweetening agent without further processing. Honey is considered as one of the sweetest natural foods in Ghana in terms of its nourishment and therapeutic properties. It can be used as food, for religious ceremonies, and as medicine for both humans and animals. It also serves to feed animals and for sweetening drugs for children.

The dietary frauds, in particular the adulteration of honey are practices in constant progress. Adulteration consists of adding external chemical substance(s) into a food product that contains naturally similar substance(s).

Recently, guaranteeing honey quality is becoming increasingly important for consumers, producers and regulatory authorities. Honey is subjected to adulterations with inexpensive sweeteners such as corn syrups (CS), high fructose corn syrups (HFCS), invert syrups (IS) or high fructose inulin syrups (HFIS). The adulteration of honey with invert sugar or syrup may not readily be detected by direct sugar analysis because its constituents are the major natural components of honey and the adulterated product would also have similar physical properties to natural honey. Both researchers and Regulatory Authorities are still searching for newer, simpler, and more sensitive and economical procedures.

The problem of adulteration of honey remains the major threat to the business survival of members of the Coalition of Beekeepers Association (COABA) in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana. For this reason, COABA is implementing an advocacy action for the regulation and standardization of honey production and marketing in the Brong Ahafo Region of Ghana with funding from the Business Sector Advocacy Challenge Fund (BUSAC Fund) and their partners, USAID, EU and Danida. The following are our recommendations:

• Enforcement of Quality and Standards by relevant stakeholder institutions

• Development of a national honey policy and strategy

• Market Development for the honey industry