3.2.2. Moisture Content

The non-conformity concerning the moisture content was 12.7%. The moisture content of the samples was assessed based on the sampling year, since the permissible moisture content in honey according to the UAE standard was recently increased from 17% [36] to 20% [35]. In honey samples, 26 of the 31 samples did not meet the old criterion for moisture (UAE.S 147, 2017) [36], with a mean moisture content of 18.3% (17.7 to 19.3%). Using the updated criterion of 20% moisture, 5 of the 31 samples did not conform [38], and had a mean moisture content of 22% (20.6 to 24.6%). Similar values were reported for Tanzanian honey [41], with a moisture range of 21.6 to 22.8%, and Philippine honey [41], with a moisture range between 22.0 to 23.1%. In contrast, Australian honey samples were fully compliant with the 20% requirement, having mean sample moisture contents ranging from 10.6 to 17.8% [21]. High moisture content may have resulted from honey harvest under high humidity conditions or an early seasonal honey extraction [42]. The variance in moisture content can also be attributed to the botanical source, the season, as well as the geographic conditions.
