Validation of analytical methods for the detection of beeswax adulteration with a focus on paraffin

Svečnjak, Lidija; Nunes, Fernando M.; Matas, Raquel García; Cravedi, Jean‐Pierre; Christodoulidou, Anna; Rortais, Agnès; Saegerman, Claude

doi:10.1016/j.foodcont.2020.107503

Cited by 6 publications

(2 citation statements)

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“…Beeswax traceability and authentication should be conducted with regular surveillance beekeeping programs. To conduct such surveillance programs, the determination and use of purity criteria (using physico-chemical methods) for beeswax intended for use in beekeeping should be implemented [ 33 ]. The use of more advanced methods (e.g.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Adulteration of beeswax: A first nationwide survey from Belgium

et al. 2021

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Beeswax is intended for use in the beekeeping sector but also in the agro-food, pharmaceutical or cosmetics sectors. The adulteration of beeswax is an emerging issue that was reported lately at several occasions in the scientific literature. This issue tends to become more frequent and global, but its exact extent is not accurately defined. The present study aims to assess the current situation in Belgium through a nationwide survey. Randomized beeswax samples originating from Belgian beekeepers (N = 98) and commercial suppliers (N = 9) were analysed with a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) coupled with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) accessory (FTIR-ATR spectroscopy) for adulteration. The survey revealed a frequency of 9.2% and 33.3% of adulteration in beekeepers beeswax samples (9 samples out of 98: 2 with paraffin and 7 with stearin/stearic acid) and commercial beeswax samples (3 samples out of 9: all adulterated with stearin/stearic acid), respectively. The analysed samples were adulterated with various percentages of paraffin (12 to 78.8%) and stearin/stearic acid (1.2 to 20.8%). This survey indicates that in the beekeepers samples, beeswax adulteration was more frequent in comb foundation and crude beeswax than in comb wax. With the example of this nationwide survey conducted in Belgium, this study shows the emergence of the issue and the urgent need for action to safeguard the health of both honey bees health and humans, in particular with the setting of a proper regulation legal framework and a specific routine analytical testing of commercial beeswax to ensure beeswax quality.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…To clarify the situation, the European Commission requested the European Food Safety Authority (EFSA) to define purity criteria for beeswax and to assess the health risks for honey bees and humans [ 8 , 31 , 33 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%