Analysis of δC and δN values in Croatian honey by EA-IRMS and possibility of their application in botanical origin verification.

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The aim of this work was to give characteristic stable carbon and nitrogen isotope ratio (C, C and N) ranges and examine their relation with botanical origin of honey. Despite that C parameter has primary purpose to detect honey adulteration, stable isotopes generally have become important parameter for detection its botanical and geographical origin. The data about stable isotopes are scarce in comparison to other well-known parameters in honey, and in Croatia there is no data about stable isotopes in unifloral honey. This research includes six characteristic honey types (black locust, chestnut, lime, rape, winter savory, and sage honey) from Croatia. Large number of differences between honey types were found in the analyzed IRMS parameters. PCA analysis has successfully separated winter savory from all other honey types, except sage honey, whose samples differed from black locust samples.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s13197-023-05888-9.