Tutin
Tutin
Tutin is a toxic compound found in some honey, where bees have had access to the NZ native Tutu plant (Coriara genus).
After a number of people were hospitalised after eating honey containing Tutin, the Ministry for Primary Industries brought in food safety regulations requiring honey to be tested for Tutin. The Tutin compliance guide can be found here.
Toxic honey can be produced during the summer if bees collect honeydew secreted by passion vine hopper insects that are feeding on the sap of Tutu plants. MPI have established a maximum residue level (MRL) of 0.7 mg/kg of tutin in honey to protect people eating honey. Testing of honey produced in many areas of NZ is required before honey is able to be sold.
ALS Food & Environmental NZ has developed a sensitive method for testing Tutin in honey, which can be used to test samples individually or as part of a composite. ALS Food & Environmental NZ is approved by MPI to carry out this testing.
Click here to learn more about the Tutin test
Tutin Individual:
Samples are individually prepared and analysed and the Tutin concentration is reported to the detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg.
Tutin Composite (for up to 10 samples)
Individual samples submitted by you, are carefully combined (by the laboratory) into a single composite sample for analysis. The average Tutin concentration of all samples in the composite is reported. This analysis will identify that either all individual samples in the composite will be below the MRL of 0.7 mg/kg, or that at least one of the samples in the composite is likely to have a concentration of Tutin that is above the MRL of 0.7 mg/kg.
It’s important to note that MPI Regulations (Tutin Compliance Guide) state that composite samples must be created by a laboratory. Any composite samples created outside of the laboratory cannot be tested.
This method can be used in all honey types incl. liquid and creamed honey.
HOW DOES ALS FOOD & ENVIRONMENTAL NZ CONDUCT THE TEST
Following dilution in water and extraction, the honey sample is analysed for tutin residue using Liquid Chromatograph-Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS).
ACCREDITATIONS
Tutin is an IANZ and MPI RLP accredited test.
PRICING AND TURNAROUND TIME
The turnaround time for the Tutin test is 1 - 2 working days. Please contact ALS Food & Environmental NZ for current pricing.
WHY USE ALS FOOD & ENVIRONMENTAL NZ?
ALS Food & Environmental NZ have a fast turnaround time and competitive price. ALS Food & Environmental NZ are able to carry out a number of tests on your honey, which means you can send in one sample and let us take care of the rest.
