Methods for determinging carbohydrates, hydroxymethylfurfural, and proline in honey: collaborative study.

A modification of the official selective absorption method for honey carbohydrates, 31.124--31.133, was studied collaboratively; the determinations of sucrose, total monosaccharides, disaccharides, and higher sugars by this procedure were satisfactory and were adopted by the AOAC. High pressure liquid chromatography of glucose, fructose, and sucrose in honey showed better precision than the modified official method and gave concordant results; it was also adopted. Two methods for hydroxymethylfurfural do not qualify. A method for proline was also adopted.