Mannitol: A novel chemical marker in stingless bee honey

Stingless bee honey (SBH) has garnered attention as a natural sweetener and functional food, recognized for its exceptional biological activity and distinctive flavor. Compared to honeybee honey, SBH has lower annual production but commands a higher market value, making it more susceptible to adulteration. During an analysis of trehalulose in SBH, we unexpectedly identified the naturally occurring sugar alcohol, mannitol. The presence of mannitol in SBH was confirmed using UHPLC/Q-TOF-MS, 1 H and 13 C NMR analyses. A systemic analysis of 104 SBH samples from various stingless bee species revealed mannitol in all samples, with concentrations ranging from 0.06 g to 13.49 g/100 g. The detection of previously neglected mannitol levels in SBH offers additional evidence supporting its health benefits. This study not only highlights the potential application of SBH in the food industry but also introduces mannitol as a distinctive marker for detecting SBH adulteration.