Study on distribution pattern of stable carbon isotope ratio of Chinese honeys by isotope ratio mass spectrometry

The delta C-13 values of 26 varieties of Chinese pure single-flower honeys, 323 census samples of six varieties of single-flower honeys and one multi-flower honey as well as 20 888 commercial honey samples from 135 honey-related enterprises in 25 provinces of China were analysed by stable carbon isotope ratio mass spectrometry between 1998 and 2004. It was found that the delta C-13 values of different Chinese honeys fell within the ranges of values proposed by JW White. This shows that White's theory of the stable carbon isotope ratio of honeys is applicable to Chinese honeys and further demonstrates that the theory is universal to honeys from all over the world. The study also confirmed that the delta C-13 values of honeys do not bear much relation to the environment in which the honey plants are grown, e.g. geographical area, water and soil, climate, etc., but do vary slightly with the honey plant species. (c) 2005 Society of Chemical Industry.