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The present study aimed to differentiate Mediterranean honey samples with regards to their botanical and geographical origin, using UV-vis spectroscopy, combined with multivariate statistical analysis and chemometrics. A total of 151 commercial honey samples were collected from different countries (Greece, Malta, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey), which were characterized as thyme, pine, or polyfloral. Discrimination of geographical and botanical origin was achieved successfully with Principal Component Analysis (PCA) together with Random Forest (RF), Partial Least Squares – Discriminant Analysis (PLS – DA), and Data Driven – Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies (DD-SIMCA) using the spectral range of 220–550 nm. DD-SIMCA achieved very high accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity on the discrimination of both the geographical and botanical origin of honey samples. The results support the good predictive capability of UV-vis spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for the determination of honey origin. This methodology could be utilized for the rapid and non-destructive assessment of Mediterranean honey origin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The present study aimed to identify adulteration of honey with sugar syrups and colorants using UV–Vis spectroscopy, combined with multivariate statistical analysis. A total of 209 honeys were used, including 151 commercial honey samples (thyme, pine, and polyfloral honeys) collected from different countries of Mediterranean (Greece, Malta, Spain, Tunisia, and Turkey) and 58 adulterated Greek thyme honey samples by adding syrups and colorants. Honey adulteration was identified using Principal Component Analysis (PCA) along with Random Forest (RF), Partial Least Squares – Discriminant Analysis (PLS-DA), and Data Driven-Soft Independent Modelling of Class Analogies (DD-SIMCA) using the spectral range of 220–550 nm. Comparatively, DD-SIMCA models produced better results in terms of accuracy and sensitivity in most cases evaluated. The results support the good predictive capability of UV–Vis spectroscopy combined with chemometrics for the determination of honey adulteration, and thus, it could be utilized as a rapid, inexpensive, and simple method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]