Austria trials DNA testing to uncover honey fraud

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🗞️ Driving the news: Fake honey is flooding markets, pushing new DNA testing methods into the spotlight
• Austrian company Sinsoma offers DNA testing to detect adulterated honey
• DNA testing reveals plants visited by bees and uncovers counterfeit products

🔭 The context: Nearly half of honey imports into the EU were flagged as potentially fake
• China accounted for 74% of suspicious honey consignments
• SPAR and Austria’s health agency are using DNA testing to verify honey authenticity

🌍 Why it matters for the planet: Fake honey threatens beekeepers' livelihoods and distorts fair market competition
• Beekeepers struggle to match low prices of adulterated honey
• Clearer labelling and stricter testing aim to protect honest producers

⏭️ What's next: New EU rules will require honey origin labelling from mid-2026
• Expert groups are working to harmonise honey fraud detection methods
• DNA testing needs further validation but offers promising fraud detection tools

💬 One quote: “If you wait for standardised methods, you’ll lag behind counterfeiters.” — Corinna Wallinger, Sinsoma co-founder

📈 One stat: 46% of honey tested entering the EU between 2021-2022 was potentially adulterated

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