Honey bees - Controls + public health Flashcards
How can honey be adulterated?
*Cheaper honey blending
*Added substitutions - sugars + syrup
What is requirements for honey by-products imports?
*Must be subjected to -12C or lower temp for 24hrs to kill of wax moth larvae
*regulated by British Honey importers and packers association (BHIPA) code of practice
What can’t be done regarding importing bees anymore?
Import packets of bees, nucleus or full colonies
What needs to be done to export bees from UK to EU countries?
*Export health certificate signed by OV
*Health inspection needed before signing
*OV may request National Bee Instructor
When are hives active?
*Spring + autumn - when food available
What are found within a colony?
*1 Queen
*Thousands of workers (females)
*Hundreds of drones (Males - in summer)
What is the life cycle of bees?
*Egg born by queen, develops into larva, pupa and adult
*21day cycle for workers + drones
*16 day cycle for queens
What is the life of a worker bee?
*0-6 days = cell cleaning + general hive cleaning
*3-9days = feeding the brood
*6-18days = attending the queen
*12-20 days = wax production + comb building
*15-25 days = hive ventilation
*18-35days = guard duty
*20 days = death - nectar collection
*20 days = death - pollen collection
*25 days = death - water + propolis collection
What are different honeys?
*Clear
*Soft set
*Blended
*Single source
*Mono-floral
*Cut comb / sections
What are other products other than honey?
*Wax
*Royal jelly
*Pollen
*Propolis
*Bee venom
What are compositional criteria of honey according to the Honey (England) Regulations (2015)?
- The honey consists essentially of different sugars, predominantly fructose and glucose, as well as other substances such as organic acids, enzymes and solid particles derived from honey collection.
- The colour varies from nearly colourless to dark brown.
- The consistency can be fluid, viscous or partly or entirely crystallised.
- The flavour and aroma vary but are derived from the plant origin.
- No food ingredient has been added, including any food additive.
- No other additions have been made to the honey except for other honey.
- It must, as far as possible, be free from organic or inorganic matters foreign to its composition.
What is natural honey processing?
*Collected by bee in crop which is enlarged
*Transported to beehive and stored in honeycomb - water content reduced from 70% to 20% + capped with layer of wax
How is honey harvested?
*Harvest when all cells on a frame are capped (ok if 75% capped)
*Collect on honeycomb, by centrifugation manual / electric, or by pressing/mashed
*Course Filter to remove debris
What happens when honey is pasteurized?
*Most of the pollen is removed - not good
What is done after filtration of honey?
*Leave to ripen before bottling
