Honey is a natural sweetener with recognized therapeutic properties (1) . Its quality, defined by key physicochemical parameters, is critical for consumer safety and market value (1,2) . Sidir honey is highly popular in Saudi Arabia yet concerns remain about adulteration and quality degradation (3) . This study evaluated the quality of Sidir honey in Jeddah, comparing results with international and regional standards Forty-five Yemeni Sidir honey samples were collected from various retail outlets in Jeddah. Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), reducing sugar, acidity, and moisture content were analyzed following standardized methods (4,5) , and results were compared with Codex Alimentarius and Gulf Standardization Organization standards (GCO) (6,7) . The HMF content (mg/kg) of the analyzed samples ranged from not-detected to 565.2 with a mean value of 95.50±20.10. A total of 19 samples (42%) had values (51.3-565) that were higher than the maximum limits allowed by the International and GCO legislation ≥40 to 80 mg/kg (6) . In addition, there were significant differences (p20%) (8) . In addition, the acidity level (meq/kg) in all the analyzed samples was between 7 and 13, with a mean value of 7.93±0.10. All samples had values that were within acceptable limits (50 meq/kg) (8) . A considerable share of Yemeni Sidir honey in Jeddah does not meet recognized quality criteria, likely due to adulteration or poor storage. This study recommends promoting high-quality honey to benefit consumers by classifying honey in the Saudi market using physicochemical parameters, prohibiting unlabeled honey, and implementing clear GCO policies on imported honey.
Maha Thaiban (Fri,) studied this question.