Of bees and buzz: towards validated NGS-based methods in honey authentication

Honey, a food with a long history, has evolved into a substantial global market. Its production relies on honeybees, which are also important in pollination and agriculture. Honey adulteration threatens this sector, requiring analytical methods to assess its authenticity, with Next Generation Sequencing emerging as a promising innovative solution. However, like any authentication method, its effectiveness must be evaluated via rigorous testing, ring trials, and comparison with existing methods.