The DNA Test

A Breakthrough Tool to Detect Honey Fraud — and Restore Trust

What is it?

DNA testing in honey analysis uses high-throughput sequencing to detect the entire biological footprint inside a sample. This includes:

  • Pollen from nectar plants
  • Microbes and fungi
  • Insect and bee DNA
  • Traces of environmental flora and fauna

This method captures what scientists call an environmental DNA profile — like a genetic fingerprint of the honey’s origin.

 

“Each jar of honey holds thousands of data points about where the bees have been and what they've encountered.”

Prof. Dr. Michael Traugott, Sinsoma GmbHBuN_22-25_TT_Honigverfa…

Why DNA Is a Gamechanger in Honey Authentication

  • It detects what traditional tests miss.
  • It’s harder to manipulate than sugar profiles.
  • It shows if a sample’s origin matches its label.
  • It exposes artificial additions like rice or wheat syrup.

In recent EPBA-commissioned tests, 80% of imported supermarket honeys passed traditional NMR/IRMS screening — but failed DNA analysis, showing clear signs 

More about DNA databases at the European Commission
Honiganalyse im Labor. Foto: ebpa
Honiganalyse im Labor. Foto: ebpa

Two DNA Methods: Barcoding vs. Metagenomics

DNA Barcoding & Metabarcoding

  • Targets specific known species using curated reference databases (e.g., BOLD, NCBI)
  • Ideal for detecting floral sources and minor adulterants
  • Often combined with quantitative PCR to estimate composition
  • High precision for pollen and plant origin tracing

Metagenomics (e.g., by Celvia AS)

  • Sequences all DNA present in the honey
  • Generates a complete multi-species environmental profile
  • Detects absence of bee-typical biodiversity or presence of foreign markers
  • Uses AI-based pattern matching against reference profiles

What Authorities Are Saying

According to the German Federal Office of Consumer Protection (BVL), both DNA-based methods offer great promise for food fraud detection — but still require further standardization and validation for routine regulatory use. “NGS methods like Metagenomics and Metabarcoding must be seen as complementary to traditional techniques. Their full potential will unfold through further development.”
— BVL Report, May 20252025-05-12_Stellungnahm… Still, their findings — especially when multiple labs agree — are already scientifically robust and difficult to refute.

What Does the DNA Test Reveal?

✔ Is the honey consistent with declared floral and geographic origin?
✔ Are key natural environmental signals present (bee DNA, local flora)?
✔ Are there unexpected sequences (e.g., rice, corn, sugar beet)?
✔ Is the DNA complexity unnaturally low — a sign of heavy dilution?

A Growing Database of Honesty

Each new DNA-analyzed honey adds to a growing database of authentic reference profiles, improving detection accuracy. This collective scientific memory is becoming an essential tool for food transparency in Europe.

DNA Testing: Not Replacing, But Enhancing

DNA is not a stand-alone silver bullet — yet. But it adds a powerful layer to traditional tools like:

  • NMR (nuclear magnetic resonance)
  • IRMS (isotope ratio mass spectrometry)
  • Pollen microscopy
  • Sensory analysis

The future of honey authentication lies in multi-method integration — and DNA is central to that effort.

Want to Test Your Own Honey?

We recommend two trusted European labs:

🇪🇪 Celvia CC AS (Estonia): Metagenomic profiling with AI comparison
🇦🇹 Sinsoma GmbH (Austria): DNA barcoding & environmental signature profiling
 
Tests range from €150 (basic DNA-pollen analysis) to €900 (full DNA-profile for bulk importers).

 

DNA Testing Helps Us All

✔ For beekeepers: Prove the origin and purity of your product
✔ For retailers: Protect your customers and your reputation
✔ For regulators: Back enforcement with hard-to-fake evidence
✔ For science and transparency: Build a better standard

„DNA testing was a gamechanger in criminal forensics — and will be the same in food fraud detection.“
— Prof. Dr. Michael Traugott

The EPBA Position

As the leading European association of professional beekeepers, the EPBA:

  • Promotes DNA testing as a pillar of future honey verification
  • Advocates for its recognition and support by authorities
  • Funds public lab testing and transparency projects
  • Builds bridges between science, policy, and beekeepers

📎 Want to download our full position paper or learn more about recent DNA test campaigns?

👉 [DOWNLOAD POSITIONSPAPIER]

Let’s use science to protect real honey — together.

Let’s use science to protect real honey — together.