Honey With High HMF to Be Treated as ‘Substandard’, Confirms FSSAI

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has clarified that honey samples with Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels above the permitted limit should be labelled “substandard” and not “unsafe.” This clarification comes after inconsistencies were noticed, where different analysts classified such samples differently.

What the Standards Say

Under Clause 2.8.3(1) of the Food Safety and Standards (Food Products Standards and Food Additives) Regulations, 2011, the allowed limit of HMF in honey is 80 mg/kg. Some recent sample reports, however, were being marked “unsafe,” creating confusion in the industry and among enforcement officials. During its 29th meeting on December 18, 2024, FSSAI’s Scientific Panel reviewed available research and concluded that there is not enough scientific evidence to show that higher HMF levels pose a direct health risk to consumers. Because of this, FSSAI has stated that until stronger research is available HMF will continue to be treated as a quality parameter, not a safety parameter.

Classification Updated to Maintain Uniformity

With this clarification, any honey that crosses the HMF limit will now be labelled only as “substandard.” It will not be considered harmful or unsafe for consumption based on current scientific knowledge. The advisory was issued with the approval of the competent authority and signed by Dr. Srinivasan G.V., Joint Director (Quality Assurance), FSSAI. This move aims to ensure consistent classification and avoid misinterpretation by analysts and enforcement bodies.

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