INCIDENCE OF SOME CLASSES OF ANTIBIOTICS IN BEE PRODUCTS. SOURCES OF CONTAMINATION: CASE STUDY ON HONEY AND BEE COLLECTED POLLEN

Otilia Bobiş, Victoriţa Bonta, D. Dezmirean

Abstract
   Bee products are rich in minerals, antioxidants, and simple sugars. Honey is known to be rich in both enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants. Bee-pollen is a complete natural supplement, with high and good protein and aminoacid content, lipids and fatty acids, as well as simple sugars. Beside the basic quality parameters, determination of bee products contamination is of crucial importance. Environmental contaminants in products of the hive involve heavy metals, organic pollutants, pesticides and genetically modified organisms. Also other type of contamination may be due to the improper beekeeping practices. Major contaminants associated with beekeeping practices are acaricides and antibiotics used for the control of bee diseases. Monitoring antibiotics residues in honey and honey products helps to assess the potential risk of these products to human health. APHIS Laboratory have implemented chromatographic methods for determination of different classes of antibiotics. Different samples of honey and bee-pollen were collected from beekeepers and subjected to tetracycline, oxytetracicline and sulfonamide determination. Positive samples were identified, representing 15% from the whole sample numbers