Review on The Hidden Potential Health Risks of Natural Toxins in Honey Bees (Apis mellifera) “Honey” in Tigray, Ethiopia.

Abstract

Honeybees (Apis mellifera) are eusocial golden insects renowned for their ability to produce honey, a natural and nutritious food widely appreciated by humans. They collect nectar and pollen from a variety of wild flowering plants, each contributing unique sugar concentrations that bees process into mature honey using enzymatic secretions. Beyond honey production, honeybees play a crucial role in pollination services, significantly supporting biodiversity and contributing to environmental conservation and climate change mitigation. Through pollination services, bees ensure the survival of numerous plant species, making them essential to the ecological balance of the planet. While honey is regarded as a natural and healthy food, it carries hidden dangers. Consumers often believe that “natural food sources” like honey are inherently safe, but research reveals that honey may contain naturally occurring toxins. These toxins are influenced by multiple factors, including the botanical origin of the nectar, environmental conditions, geographical location, bee races, and beekeeping practices. Such toxins not only pose health risks to consumers but also result in significant economic losses for the honey industry due to contamination and rejection of products. To address these concerns, it is essential to understand the sources of natural toxins in honey and their potential risks to human health. Careful inspection of honey is necessary to identify these contaminants and minimize their presence. To reduce risks and ensure safe consumption, honey producers must adopt proper processing and handling techniques. The use of advanced technologies, such as liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), is highly recommended. LC-MS is favored for its precision, wide applicability, and ability to accurately detect toxins at low concentrations. Implementing such advanced methods and technologies will help maintain the quality of honey, protect consumer health, and promote sustainable honey production practices.

Keywords: Clostridium Botulinum, Grayatoxins, Health Risks, Natural Toxins.

DOI: 10.7176/ALST/101-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2025