Honey from bees is a product that can have its quality reduced due to its form of attainment and manipulation. Fifty-two samples of honeys produced in the State of Piauí (being 25 from Picos, 1 from São Miguel do Tapuio, 2 from Pio IX, 9 from Itainópolis, 5 from São Raimundo Nonato, 5 from Simplício Mendes and 5 from Piripiri) were collected. They were sent to the Laboratory of Physical and Chemical Analyses of the Nucleus of Studies, Research and Processing of Foods - NUEPPA of the Center of Agrarian Sciences - CCA of the Federal University of Piauí - UFPI, for analysis of the presence of dirtiness and strange materials, according to methodologies I and II recommended by SANTA CATARINA (1985). Of the samples analyzed by methodologies I and II, 65.38 and 30.77%, respectively, did not attend the macroscopic and microscopic aspects and the identity and quality standards for honey1, due to the presence of dirtiness and strange materials, such as insects, larvae, mites, human and rodent hairs, moths, amongst others.
bee honey; microscopy; dirtiness
