Honey is an important food for man and has been used as a natural sweetener since ancient times. It is a viscous and aromatic product made by honey bees using the nectar of flowers or honeydew. Honey is composed of a complex mixture of carbohydrates and other substances such as organic acids, amino acids, proteins, minerals, vitamins, lipids, aroma compounds, flavonoids, pigments, waxes, pollen grains, several enzymes, and other phytochemicals. This chapter presents some properties of Apis mellifera honey as well as the main methods of honey analysis. All methods are based on specialized literature, including the Codex Alimentarius, AOAC, and publications of the International Honey Commission. Herein, we describe methods related to honey authenticity, botanical origin, geographical origin, physicochemical analysis, radioentomology, pesticide and antibiotic contamination, chemotherapeutics, and sensory analysis. All methods are described in a step-by-step model in order to facilitate their use. La miel es un alimento importante para el hombre y se ha utilizado como edulcorante natural desde la antigüedad. Es un producto viscoso y aromático hecho por las abejas de la miel usando el néctar de las flores o el rocío de miel. La miel está compuesta por una mezcla compleja de carbohidratos y otras sustancias como ácidos orgánicos, aminoácidos, proteínas, minerales, vitaminas, lípidos, compuestos aromáticos, flavonoides, pigmentos, ceras, granos de polen, varias enzimas y otros fitoquímicos. En este capítulo se presentan algunas propiedades de la miel de Apis mellifera, así como los principales métodos de análisis de la miel. Todos los métodos se basan en literatura especializada, incluido el Codex Alimentarius, AOAC y publicaciones de la Comisión Internacional de la Miel. A continuación, describimos métodos relacionados con la autenticidad de la miel, el origen botánico, el origen geográfico, el análisis fisicoquímico, la radioentomología, la contaminación por pesticidas y antibióticos, la quimioterapia y el análisis sensorial. Todos los métodos se describen en un modelo paso a paso para facilitar su uso.

The aim of the study was to screen for the presence of antimicrobial residues in poultry eggs from Bangladesh using the Charm II radio-receptor assay in the absence of expensive confirmatory instrumentation. This was based on cut-off values as set in the validation guidelines according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC and Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2021/808. Fortified eggs spiked with fixed concentrations of doxycycline, erythromycin A, sulphamethazine, and benzylpenicillin were used to determine the cut-off values and detection capabilities (CCβ). Other validation parameters included were applicability, ruggedness, and robustness. A total of 201 egg mix samples from native organic chicken, duck, and commercial farm-raised laying hens (both brown and white eggs) were tested and after analysis 13%, 10%, and 4.5% of the egg mix samples showed positive signals for sulphonamides, macrolides/lincosamides, and tetracyclines, respectively. Presence of multiple drug residues were also suspected in 11 out of 201 egg mix samples.

The biochemicals utilized in the Charm MRL -Lactam test (8 min test) were applied to faster flowing lateral components to create a new 3 min, one-step -lactam test called Charm MRL-3 (Charm Sciences Inc., Lawrence, MA). This new test was validated at T&V-ILVO according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC. The following analytical parameters were checked: test specificity, detection capability, and test robustness (impact of deviation of the test protocol, and impact of the milk composition, batch differences of reagents). Further, the suitability of the Charm MRL-3 to screen heat-treated milk or milk from animal species other than the cow was also tested. Finally, the test was integrated in the monitoring of dairy samples to check the occurrence of false-negative or false-positive results, and the test was also included in a national ring trial and an international proficiency study. The results proved that the Charm MRL-3 is a fast, simple, and reliable cows' milk test that can be used at the farm level in order to prevent tanker milk contamination, or at the entrance of the dairy plant to screen tanker milk for the presence of -lactam antibiotics.

Background: The AnticFast® Beta-lactams & Tetracyclines Combo Test Kit is a qualitative two-step (2 min + 5 min) rapid lateral flow assay to detect β-lactam (penicillins and cefalosporins) and tetracycline antibiotic residues in raw commingled cows’ milk. Objective: The method performance was evaluated according to Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808 and Community Reference Laboratories Residues Guidelines for the Validation of Screening Methods for Residues of Veterinary Medicines and submitted for AOAC Performance Tested MethodsSM certification. Methods: The AnticFast Beta-lactams & Tetracyclines Combo Test Kit was evaluated for detection capability (CCβ), selectivity, false-positive results, repeatability, robustness, suitability for various milk types and milk compositions, milks from various species, and test kit consistency and stability. Samples included milks spiked at concentrations bracketing the EU maximum residue limits (MRLs) for β-lactams and tetracyclines as well as bulk farm and tanker milks. Results: The AnticFast Beta-lactams & Tetracyclines Combo Test Kit is specific for the detection of residues of β-lactams and tetracyclines in milk and does not detect residues from other antibiotic families. Interference was seen with clavulanic acid, a β-lactamase inhibitor, which was expected. The test can detect (minimum a 95% detection) all residues of β-lactams (penicillins and cepfalosporins) and tetracyclines (parent drugs and their 4-epimers) present on the EU-MRL list for milk at their respective MRL except for desfuroylceftiofur and cefalexin, with a 95% detection only above the MRL. No false positives were detected in 599 blank samples (out of 305 farm and 301 tanker load samples) tested on both channels. Five real positives were detected and confirmed on the tetracycline channel for the farm milk samples, and two positives were detected and confirmed on the β-lactam channel for the tanker samples. Robustness testing indicated that the detection in high-protein raw cows’ milk and heat-treated milk types (UHT, sterilized, and reconstituted milk powder) may be slightly hampered. For substances with a detection capability well below the MRL, this interference does not cause problems since detection at MRL remains guaranteed, but care should be taken for substances with a CCβ at or near their MRL. Diminished sample flow was seen for high-fat raw cows’ milk and for all other cows’ milk types other than raw milk and blank ewes’ milk, so sample flow should always be verified for these milk types. Conclusions: Results of this validation show that the AnticFast Beta-lactams & Tetracyclines Combo Test Kit is a reliable test for rapid screening of raw cows’ milk for residues of β-lactam and tetracycline antibiotics. Highlights: The AnticFast Beta-lactams & Tetracyclines Combo Test Kit is an easy, reliable, robust, and highly specific test for screening of β-lactam (penicillins and cefalosporins) and tetracycline antibiotic residues in milk with incubation at room temperature. In raw cows’ milk, all tetracyclines are detected below 10 µg/kg.

The European Union’s goal to reduce pesticide risk, exemplified by restrictions on insecticides like neonicotinoids, necessitates a shift from single-substance risk assessment to a holistic evaluation of pest control strategies. To address this, a novel decision-support grid was developed that integrates 13 environmental, biodiversity, and human health risk indicators for multiple active substances across an entire crop season into a single Final Scenario Score (FSS), ranging from 0 to 1 (where 1 is the risk of the reference scenario). This framework was applied to three case studies in Belgium—sugar beet, apple, and pear cultivation—where neonicotinoid-based reference scenarios were compared with chemical and/or organic alternatives under low (best-case) and high (worst-case) pest pressure conditions. The results highlight the complexity of finding viable alternatives, with an FSS below 0.75 as the justification threshold. In sugar beet, only the best-case chemical alternative (FSS = 0.71) met the threshold, while worst-case chemical alternatives failed due to increased risk. For apple and pear, organic alternatives consistently showed low-risk scores (FSS 0.27–0.61) but faced important efficacy gaps against key insect. Chemical alternatives in orchards were justifiable in low-pressure scenarios (FSS 0.64–0.73) but failed under high pest pressure (FSS 0.91–0.93). This novel decision-support grid proves to be a valuable tool for guiding sustainable pest control strategies for regulators and field advisors.

Background: AnticFast® Beta-Lactams Rapid Test Kit is a qualitative two-step (2 min + 5 min) rapid lateral flow assay to detect β-lactam (penicillins and cephalosporins) antibiotic residues in raw commingled cow’s milk. Objective: The method performance was evaluated according to Commission Decision 2002/657/EC, Commission Implementing Regulation 2021/808, and Community Reference Laboratories Residues Guidelines for the Validation of Screening Methods for Residues of Veterinary Medicines. Methods: The AnticFast Beta-Lactams Rapid Test Kit was evaluated for detection capability, selectivity, false-positive results, repeatability, robustness, suitability for various milk types and milk compositions, milks from various species, and test kit consistency and stability. Samples included milks spiked at concentrations bracketing the EU maximum residue limits (MRLs) for β-lactams as well as bulk farm and tanker milks. Results: The AnticFast Beta-Lactams Rapid Test Kit is specific for the detection of β-lactams in milk and does not detect compounds from other antibiotic families. Interference was seen with clavulanic acid, a β-lactamase inhibitor, which was expected. The test can detect all residues of β-lactams (penicillins and cephalosporins) present on the EU-MRL list for milk at their respective MRL except for desfuroylceftiofur and cephalexin, which were above the MRL. No false positives were detected in the 602 (300 blank farm and 302 tanker load) samples tested. Robustness testing indicated that the detection in heat-treated milk types may be slightly hampered. For substances with a detection capability well below the MRL, this interference does not cause problems since detection at MRL remains guaranteed, but care should be taken for substances with a CCβ at or near their MRL. Diminished sample flow was seen with reconstituted milk powder and blank ewes’ milk, so sample flow should always be verified for these milk types. Conclusions: Results of this validation show that the AnticFast Beta-Lactams Rapid Test Kit is a reliable test for rapid screening of raw cows’ milk for residues of β-lactam antibiotics. Highlights: AnticFast Beta-Lactams Rapid Test Kit is an easy, realiable, robust and highly specific test for screening of raw cows' milk for residues of penicillins and cephalosporins.