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Science 26 August 1977:
Vol. 197. no. 4306, pp. 891 - 892
DOI: 10.1126/science.197.4306.891
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Articles

Carbon-13/Carbon-12 Ratio Is Relatively Uniform Among Honeys

LANDIS W. DONER 1 and JONATHAN W. WHITE JR. 1

1 Eastern Regional Research Center, Agricultural Research Service, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19118

The variability of the carbon-13/carbon-12 ratio in honeys was evaluated preliminary to use of the ratio to detect the addition of high-fructose corn syrup to honey. Eighty-four honey samples representing 34 states and including 37 floral types from 17 plant families were analyzed. The mean value of the per mil increment in carbon-13 (dgr13C) for all samples is –25.2 per mil, and the coefficient of variation is 3.7 percent. This is the smallest variation yet encountered for a honey constituent or physical property. The range and magnitude of the values suggest that the floral sources are C3 plants.

Submitted on April 7, 1977
Revised on May 20, 1977


THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN CITED BY OTHER ARTICLES:
Determination of stable carbon isotope ratio {delta}13 C by mass spectrometry in Spanish honeys/Analisis del indice isotopico estable {delta}13C en mieles espanolas mediante resonancia magnetica nuclear.
J. Serra Bonvehi and F. Ventura Coll (1995)
Food Science and Technology International 1, 25-28
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