Carbon-13/Carbon-12 Ratio Is Relatively Uniform Among Honeys

The variability of the carbon-13/carbon-12 ratio in honeys was evaluated preliminary to use of the ratio to detect the addition of high-fructose corn syrup to honey. Eighty-four honey samples representing 34 states and including 37 floral types from 17 plant families were analyzed. The mean value of the per mil increment in carbon-13 (delta13C) for all samples is -25.2 per mil, and the coefficient of variation is 3.7 percent. This is the smallest variation yet encountered for a honey constituent or physical property. The range and magnitude of the values suggest that the floral sources are C(3) plants.