Assessment of Physicochemical Composition and Metal Content of Honey Collected from the Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Background and Objective: Honey should be free from contaminants and adulterants that can directly or indirectly affect consumer health. Regular assessment of honey quality is essential to ensure its safety in the domestic market. This study aimed to determine selected physicochemical parameters and metal contents in honey samples collected from Adola Rede, Bore, Ana Sora, and Dama districts of Guji Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Materials and Methods: Physicochemical parameters measured included pH, electrical conductivity (μS/cm), moisture (%), total ash (%), and free acidity (meq/kg). Metals analyzed included Ca, Mg, Cu, Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, and Pb. The pH and electrical conductivity were measured using an AD8000 pH/mV/EC/TDS/Temp meter. Moisture and total ash were determined gravimetrically, free acidity by titration, and metal contents by flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS). One-way ANOVA was performed to test differences among honey samples, with significance set at p<0.05, using IBM SPSS 20. Results: The mean values of physicochemical parameters were: pH (3.50-3.95), electrical conductivity (0.220-0.850 μS/cm), moisture (6.66-18.3%), total ash (0.23-0.73%), and free acidity (20.3-37.0 meq/kg). The mean metal concentrations were: Ca (79.9-145.0 mg/L), Mg (552.2-1030.1 mg/L), and Cu (1.22-1.55 mg/L). Mn, Ni, Co, Cr, and Pb w ere below detection limits. Significant differences (p<0.05) were observed among samples for both physicochemical parameters and metals. All measured parameters were below the maximum limits set by Ethiopian Standard, FAO/WHO, and EU guidelines. Conclusion: Honey produced in the Guji Zone is of good quality, safe for consumption, and can serve as a valuable source of nutrients in the human diet.