Evaluating Compliance of Commercial Stingless Bee Honey According to Malaysian Standard 2683:2017 – Physicochemical Properties

Stingless bee honey is gaining its popularity due to nutritional value and better pollinators than honey bee. Since stingless bee honey has different composition than Apis spp. honey, further physicochemical parameters are presented according to stingless bee species. Hence, an establishment of Malaysian Standard- 2683 Stingless Bee Honey Specification (MS-2863:2017) in year 2017 was formed as guideline towards stingless bee honey quality. This current study focusing on the compliance of commercial stingless bee honey towards this standard. By using procedure and method proposed in MS 2863:2017, all physicochemical properties honey was analysed portrays its quality. Thirteen samples of stingless bee honey around Kelantan was collected, two from blended species of stingless bees, two from G. thoracica and nine from H. itama species. Samples also including a single heat treatment honey sample and twelve raw honey which undergo physicochemical analysis. Physicochemical analysis in honey includes moisture, ash, hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and pH value with results 27.05 % to 32.61 %, 0.08 g to 0.14 g, 8.75 mg/kg to 218.66 mg/kg and 2.32 to 3.22. It represents, moisture and ash content in stingless bee honey is higher than Apis spp. with lowest pH value and HMF content. Some of the stingless bee honey were complies with MS-2863:2017 which based on varieties of geographical origin, bee species, flower sources and honey form.