The review on aliphatic organic acids (AOA) of honey and pot-honey for bee science

Abstract

An updated reference for Aliphatic Organic Acids AOA < 2.5% for Apis mellifera honey, as well as evidenced AOA < 4.4% for pot-honey are proposed after this review. The organic acids < 0.5% of Apis mellifera honey's constituents (2003) persisting along the years, was underestimated. Chronological data (1994-2023) for maximum concentrations of total AOA of Apis mellifera honeys were: 1.2% in strawberry tree honey Italy, 1.0% floral Erica Spain, 1.3% chestnut Turkey, 1.6% chestnut France, 1.8% polyfloral and chestnut Germany + 0.7% estimated gluconic acid, 1.6% bracatinga honeydew Brazil. The scope of this review was refining bibliometric support of 919 samples, 710 Apis mellifera honey and 209 Meliponini pot-honey, and harmonizing units for aliphatic organic acids (g/100 g honey). AOA are also named non-aromatic organic acids, and they contribute to the free acidity of honey standards, being gluconic acid often the most abundant in honey, but not always assessed. However, in the pot-honey of Meliponini, acetic and lactic acids are distinctive and could be very high in the AOA spectra. The associated microbiota plays a role here.