Antibiotic Residues in Filtered Honeys

Abstract

In this study, tetracycline and streptomycin group antibiotic residues were investigated in packaged and open sold honey. For this purpose, a total of 60 honey samples, which were 30 of each were used as material. Honey samples were taken from various sales places located in Sivas province. ELISA method was used for the analysis and commercial test kits were used. According to the analysis results; tetracycline was found in 73.3% (22 samples) of the packaged honey and streptomycin was found in all samples. Tetracycline and streptomycin were determined as positive in open honeys were respectively 60% (18 samples) and 93.3% (28 samples). Tetracycline levels were between 0.12-371.43 ppb (mean 13.91 ± 12.33) in packaged honey and 0.02-13.32 ppb (mean 1.75 ± 0.5) in open honeys. Streptomycin levels were 1.30-250.2 ppb (mean 25.8 ± 10.8) in packaged honey and 0.19-22.71 ppb (mean 8.21 ± 5.2) in open honeys. Antibiotic residue was not found in one sample of open honeys. The findings suggest that, although illegal, some medicines are used in beekeeping or that bees are exposed to antibiotics that are added to the feed or water of other animals. These findings pose a potential risk to the consumer.