Testing Honey for Tutin
The New Zealand Food Safety Authority (NZFSA) has introduced a new Food (Tutin in Honey) Standard 2009 which came into effect on 25th January 2009. The standards aims to prevent tutin contaminated honey reaching consumers. Testing of honey for tutin prior to packing is one of the measures that you can apply to meet the new standard.
AsureQuality has developed new testing methods which can monitor the tutin levels in honey and is now offering this test to the apiculture industry.
Testing Techniques for Honey & Comb Honey
We are using the most sensitive and accurate testing method to analyse for Tutin - Liquid Chromatography Tandem Mass Spectrometry (known as LC-MSMS).
Our method reports tutin levels down to 0.1 parts per million, the lowest requirement for the NZFSA standard.
Pricing structure
AsureQuality is providing two options for testing. National Beekeepers Association (NBA) Members are entitled to a 10% discount on these prices:
Option 1:
$59+ GST per sample for a Composite Testing Programme where AsureQuality composites multiple samples for testing.
Note: If a positive result is found in the composite test, AsureQuality will identify the supplier of the positive sample at its own expense and report the results back to that supplier. That supplier will be required to test future samples individually at the routine analysis price of $175 +GST per sample until two consecutive “clear” samples are obtained. When this requirement is met the supplier can re-join the composite testing programme.
Option 2:
Each honey sample tested on its own at the routine analysis price of $175 +GST.
24-48 hour turnaround is available by negotiation but a surcharge may apply.
Related links
NZFSA Background on Toxic Honey
