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“Our Greatest Responsibility Towards Our Consumers is Food Safety”

The 8th International Food Safety Congress, where the issue of "Food Safety", which is of vital importance for consumers, was discussed, was held on 9-10 May. Özen Altıparmak, Chairman of the Board of Directors of Balparmak, Turkey's Number 1 Natural Honey Brand*, said in the "Food Sector Talks Food Safety" panel, "As Balparmak, our greatest responsibility towards our Consumers is food safety, transparency and traceability. "For this reason, we are in a serious fight against fraud in honey and we have been offering natural honey to our consumers for 44 years."

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Leaders of the industry came together at the 8th International Food Safety Congress to discuss the topic of "Food Safety", one of the most important topics of the food industry. Honey, which was considered as the 6th easiest food product to produce fraudulently in the report announced by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA), was one of the important topics of the congress. Speaking at the congress, the leading brand of the honey and other bee products industry Ozen Altiparmak, Chairman of the Board of BalparmakHe emphasized that, with the scientific studies carried out in R&D centers, they have made inventions that will set an example for the world in analyzing imitation and adulteration in honey. Altıparmak, Balparmak R&D and Quality Director Dr. Emel Damarlı and Balparmak Analytical R&D Manager İsmail Emir Akyıldız with his presentation titled "A Comprehensive Review on Current Counterfeiting and Adulteration Practices in Honey and Analytical Approaches Commonly Used in Detection of Fraud".

In his speech, Özen Altıparmak stated that he sees food safety as the basic element of branding and said, “In our country, we are struggling with uncontrolled honey sold openly or products with lack of control on the shelves. Within the scope of this struggle, we are constantly improving ourselves scientifically. For example; With the new technological investment we made in our Balparmak R&D Center in 2022, we are detecting and reporting products made from sugar syrups such as corn, beet, rice and agave, which are a very common type of adulterated honey in the market and can only be revealed through detailed analysis with advanced technology. In addition, we can detect the presence of food dyes and enzyme additives added to the adulterated honey obtained from these syrups in order to give the perception of real honey, in a highly accurate and sensitive format. As Balparmak, we have been able to detect whether a honey is adulterated or not through the analyzes we carry out in our laboratories for 44 years, and we offer only natural honey and bee products to the tables. However, in order for the detected cheating method to be published as scientific, it must be reportable using scientific methods. Today, with our new technological equipment, we are able to share the methods we have developed with the whole world, thanks to the hard work of our 20 engineers who are experts in their fields. The part that makes us proud for our country is; "Our Balparmak R&D center is the first in the world to find these important methods developed within the scope of combating imitation and adulteration (cheating) in bee products," he said.

We Offer Our Consumers the Opportunity to Verify That Their Products Are Natural

Altıparmak tests the bee products they collect from beekeepers all over Turkey throughout the year for naturalness on at least 4 parameters with a 100-stage analysis process at "Balparmak APILAB", which is Turkey's first and Europe's four equivalent Honey and Bee Products Specialization Laboratory. He stated that, as a result of these analyzes made with advanced methods, they present products to the table that they are 100 percent sure of their naturalness. Safe food; Pointing out that it should not lose its nutritional value, be physically, chemically and microbiologically clean and intact, Altıparmak said, “Food must be obtained, processed and preserved in environments that will not affect human health or create environmental problems. In this sense, it is of great importance to comply with the necessary rules and take precautions during the production, processing, storage, transportation and distribution stages of food. Consumers do not know whether the food products entering their homes are produced in accordance with food safety. However, transparency and traceability should be the first rule in food safety. As Balparmak, we encourage the consumer to question the product they will buy, thanks to our "TRACEABILITY" project that we implemented in 2015. With "traceability", we offer our consumers the opportunity to verify their products and access the analysis report of the products. We ensure that our consumers are sure of its naturalness and purity by scanning the QR code on our product from their mobile phone while it is still on the market shelf. We want; "The consumer should be able to understand the content of the product he takes home and puts on his table, whether the product has the quality values ​​it should have, which region it comes from, the types of pollen it contains, the plant-flower source, that is, whether the product is pure and natural," he said.

Balparmak Beekeeping Academy Reached 7000 Women and Young Beekeepers

Stating that they see transparency and traceability as a responsibility towards their consumers, Özen Altıparmak continued his speech and stated that they also have a responsibility towards bees and beekeepers. Stating that this is why the Balparmak Beekeeping Academy, which was launched in 2018, was established, Altıparmak continued his words as follows:

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“We aim to support the recruitment of women and young people in rural development areas into beekeeping and the sustainability of the beekeeping profession. To date, we have managed to reach 700 women and young people with face-to-face training and more than 700 women and young people with online training. In our trainings, in addition to producing value-added bee products more efficiently and with higher quality, we try to correct "misconceptions" in order to increase efficiency and quality in beekeeping with modern beekeeping techniques training. "Thanks to our training, we aim to encourage the beekeeping profession to younger generations and increase household incomes," he said.

Source: HORECA Trend and Balparmak

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Honey

Call from Balparmak Chairman Özen Altıparmak on World Bee Day

Balparmak Chairman of the Board of Directors, Özen Altıparmak, called for the controlled use of pesticides on World Bee Day. Altıparmak said, “A honey bee can fly from its hive in an area of ​​80 km² to collect pollen and nectar. Adverse environmental conditions and uncontrolled spraying of agricultural areas are two important factors that harm the bee population and the quality of honey. "Our farmers should be encouraged and supervised to use good pesticides and to apply pesticides at night when bees will not fly," he said.

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Bees are creatures of critical importance for the continuation of the human race. It is accepted that bees have been on earth for 100 million years. The history of humanity is only 300 thousand years. One in every three foods that come to our table is produced by bees; 3 percent of food is obtained from 90 different plant species. 82 of these 82 species are pollinated by bees and their seeds are dispersed into the environment. While negative factors such as climate change, incorrect, unconscious and uncontrolled agricultural pesticide application, and polluted water resources reduce the bee population, they also deprive us of bee products, which are a very valuable food source. However, honey is one of the rare foods in the world that can remain intact for many years, preserving its value…

To emphasize the importance of bees and raise awareness on this issue, May 20 is celebrated as "World Bee Day" every year around the world. Turkey's number one honey brand, which has been making efforts to develop bees and beekeeping for nearly half a century. Balparmak's Chairman of the Board Özen Altıparmak also drew attention to this issue on World Bee Day. Altiparmak, “A honey bee can fly from its hive over an area of ​​80 km² to collect pollen and nectar. Therefore, adverse environmental conditions and uncontrolled spraying of agricultural areas have a significant impact on the bee population and the quality of bee products. "Serious measures need to be taken for the sustainability of nature," he said.

The Use of Nature-Friendly, Ecological Agricultural Pesticides Should Be Encouraged

Pointing out that urgent measures should be taken to protect the existence of bees, Altıparmak stated that farmers can be encouraged to use good pesticides and to apply pesticides at night when bees will not fly. Emphasizing the importance of public authorities increasing inspections on this issue, Altıparmak said, “Unfortunately, pesticides that have serious effects on the ecosystem are widely used in our country. This is why it is very important to support and increase producers who do not use drugs containing toxic chemicals and produce ecologically compatible products. "Relevant institutions and decision-makers should quickly implement sanctions on this issue in our country, focus on inspection and awareness-raising activities, and encourage ecological, nature-friendly and sustainable methods," he said.

Happy Bee Day, the World's Most Ancient Workers!

Emphasizing that bees are one of the oldest inhabitants of the earth, Altıparmak said: “We cannot thank bees enough, whose existence in the world dates back to before human beings and who literally "turn around" the world... With the right steps we will take to protect bees, not only them; It is possible to create better conditions for the future of the whole world! Because without bees, there would be no pollination, no plants, no animals, and eventually no humans. Bees, producers of one of the most delicious natural foods in the world, are among the most intriguing creatures in the living world with their extraordinary life cycles and colony structures. These tiny creatures make a significant contribution to the sustainability of nature throughout their life cycle. There are still many steps to be taken to explain the role of the bee population on our planet to all generations. "World Bee Day celebrations, which have been held worldwide every year since 2017, are among the most comprehensive steps ever taken to raise awareness about the relationship between bees and ecosystems."

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Beekeeping Profession is Aging Due to Fraudulent Honey!

Noting that beekeepers have difficulty in coping with unfair competition due to fraudulent honey sold in the market, Altıparmak said, “We have been working for the protection of the existence of bees and the development of the beekeeping profession for nearly half a century. Due to the fraud in honey, not only the consumers but also the veteran beekeepers, who do their job with sweat, are harmed. Türkiye is among the top ten countries in the world in terms of bee population. Beekeeping, together with its by-products, provides a wide range of employment opportunities in our country. It is very important that beekeeping is passed on from father to children and that the family earns a living from beekeeping. Added to this rather arduous profession is the problem of imitation and adulteration that needs to be combated. Our beekeepers, who do their job properly, are trying to compete with fraudulent honey sold in the market. As the profitability of this already challenging profession begins to decrease due to this tiring struggle, beekeeping is no longer preferred by young families, meaning the beekeeping profession is getting old. We saw this risk and launched the Balparmak Beekeeping Academy in 2018 and undertook the mission of bringing women and young beekeepers into the profession. We aimed to introduce women and young people in rural development regions to beekeeping and to support the sustainability of the beekeeping profession. To date, we have managed to reach 700 women and young people with face-to-face training and more than 700 women and young people with online training. In our trainings, we try to correct 'misconceptions' in order to increase efficiency and quality in beekeeping through modern beekeeping techniques training, as well as to produce value-added bee products more efficiently and with higher quality. "Thanks to our training, we aim to encourage the beekeeping profession to young generations and increase household incomes," he said.

The Food Product Most Exposed to Fraud is Honey

Altıparmak emphasized that, according to the research conducted by EFSA, they fought hard to obtain the natural version of honey, which is one of the food products most exposed to adulteration, and to preserve its naturalness until it is presented to the tables, and that they made a first in the world in analyzing imitation and adulteration, that is, cheating, in honey. he stated. Stating that he sees food safety as the basic element of branding, Altıparmak continued his words as follows: “In our country, we are struggling with honey sold openly or products with lack of control being on the shelves. Thanks to the technological investments we have made in our Balparmak R&D Center and our expert academic staff from different disciplines, we can detect all kinds of products recorded as adulterated honey, obtained from sugar syrups such as corn, beet, rice and agave, and sold as honey. In addition, we can detect the presence of food dyes and enzyme additives added to the adulterated honey obtained from these syrups in order to give the perception of real honey, in a highly accurate and sensitive format. "We are fighting this fight to both protect the consumer and the labor of the beekeeper, who does his job properly and with sweat," he said.

How Was World Bee Day Born?

World Bee Day is a special time period that is celebrated with various events to draw attention to the importance of the bond between bees and life. World Bee Day, declared by the United Nations (UN), is celebrated in May, when summer approaches and bee populations flock to nature. World Bee Day celebrations are held on May 20 every year. The main reason for declaring this date as World Bee Day is that it is the birthday of Slovenian Apiarist Anton Janša, known as the father of modern beekeeping. The UN Sustainable Development Goals, which are aimed to be achieved by the end of 2030, play an important role in celebrating this as a special day. This universal call to action invites all countries to take action to protect the ecosystem and biodiversity. Celebrating May 20 as World Bee Day; It was accepted unanimously at the UN General Assembly meeting held on 20 December 2017. Considering that bee and human life have a close bond in all areas, the draft resolution presented at the Board received great support with the joint participation of 115 countries. World Bee Day on May 2021, celebrated for the fourth time in 20, continues to be celebrated with larger organizations every year in almost all countries. While bees move from flower to flower to obtain their food, they also mediate pollination in plants. In fact, it plays the most critical role in the continuity of the ecosystem by providing the majority of pollen exchange on earth. All these activities of bees enable the production of 70 percent of the foods most frequently consumed by humans. This means that we owe almost every meal we consume to bees. It is estimated that if bees disappear, there will be a reduction in pollination of plants by up to 80 percent. This shows that many members of the flora, especially flowering plants (fruits, vegetables, etc.), will quickly become extinct. When plant species become so extinct, it seems inevitable that there will be major negative changes in human life as well as natural life on earth. In short; When viewed from this perspective, the word bee means both "purity" and "life"!

How Can We Protect Bees?

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  • The use of pesticides in homes and gardens should be reduced.
  • Unplanned urbanization should be prevented and natural areas should be protected.
  • Pesticide spraying should be reduced in agriculture and good agricultural practices should be disseminated.
  • Strategic measures should be taken across the country against climate change.
  • Programs and events should be organized in order to establish nature awareness in new generations.
  • More incentives should be created for beekeeping activities.
  • Planting of flowering plants that bees can benefit from should be expanded in gardens and balconies of property, as well as in agricultural and landscape areas.

In order to overcome the fear of bees in society, the public should be made more aware of the defense mechanism of bees.

About Balparmak

Balparmak, which differentiates itself with the quality standard it offers to its consumers and works with the mission of preserving the naturalness and purity of honey and bee products and raising them to the highest value they deserve, assumes the leadership of the sector in this sense. Working according to international standards on food safety, Balparmak also has international food safety systems certificates such as FSSC 22000 (FoodSafetySystemCertification) and BRCGS (British RetailConsortium Global Standards). Balparmak, which has Turkey's first R&D Center in the field of honey and other bee products and the 8th in the field of food; Thanks to the Honey and Other Bee Products Research and Quality Control Laboratory accredited by TÜRKAK, it analyzes the products it offers to its consumers in at least 100 parameters.

Source: HORECA Trend and Balparmak

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Do not miss the Natural Energy Source "Natural Honey" from your tables!

Regarding the changing diet of people fasting during Ramadan, experts emphasize that a balanced and healthy fasting diet can only be achieved by making the right food choices. At this point, it is emphasized that natural honey can play an important role in a balanced diet.

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Honey is considered an excellent natural source to meet the energy needs of fasting people with the natural sugars, vitamins and minerals it contains. The quick energy provided by honey consumed at iftar revitalizes the body and helps reduce the need for water. When honey is consumed at sahur, it helps to reduce the feeling of hunger throughout the day by keeping you full for a long time.

Nutritionists summarize the role of honey in fasting nutrition as follows: “Honey is a natural energy store and provides instant energy to the body with the nutrients it contains. When consumed at iftar and sahur, it is easy to digest and quickly absorbed by the body. "In addition, it protects the body against diseases thanks to the antioxidants contained in honey."

Those who fast can have an energetic, fit and resilient Ramadan period by choosing honey for iftar and sahur meals for a healthy and balanced diet.

So, Which Vitamin and Mineral Needs Can You Meet by Consuming Honey? 

Expert Dietician Selahattin Dönmez lists them as follows:

B vitamins: Honey contains various forms of B vitamins, especially B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (niacin) and B6 (pyridoxine). These vitamins are essential for many biological processes such as energy metabolism, nervous system functions and cell regeneration. These vitamins are very important to replace the irritability, forgetfulness and loss of energy caused by hunger.

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C vitamin: Honey contains vitamin C. Vitamin C strengthens the immune system, has antioxidant properties and is important for skin health. In order to be resistant to diseases while fasting, honey should not be missing from the table.

Potassium: Potassium is necessary for maintaining fluid balance in the body, muscle functions and regulates blood pressure. Honey contributes to this mineral with its potassium content. Consuming honey at sahur does not make you thirsty, on the contrary, it helps maintain your body's water balance.

Calcium and magnesium: Calcium found in honey is important for bone health. Magnesium is necessary for muscle functions, nerve conduction and metabolism.

Iron: The iron found in honey is necessary for the production of hemoglobin, which functions to carry oxygen in the body. The reason for our fatigue, especially in the evening and around iftar, is the decrease in oxygen carried to the blood. By consuming honey at sahur, you will store the oxygen your organs need throughout the day and prepare for the day.

Zinc: Zinc is essential for immune system functions, cell regeneration and wound healing. Zinc, naturally found in honey, contributes to the absorption of this mineral into the body.

Honey Consumption During Ramadan Helps Regulate the Digestive System

Just as we cannot finish counting the health benefits of honey, it is impossible not to mention its effects on the digestive system, especially during Ramadan. The body of individuals who fast during Ramadan is exposed to long-term hunger and thirst, resulting in changes in the digestive system and blood sugar. Digestive problems such as indigestion, bloating and gas are frequently experienced. By taking advantage of the antioxidant properties of natural honey, you can balance your digestive system and balance your blood sugar after long hours of fasting.

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How Can We Consume Honey During Ramadan?

Honey sherbets at iftar, light milk desserts with honey, bowls prepared with fruits and nuts before going to bed, and mixtures made with milk and yoghurt at sahur can keep you fit and energetic. Here are a few recipes:

Honey Güllaç

Materials

Güllaç (4 leaves)

Milk (1 liter)

Filtered Flower Plateau and Plain Honey (4 tablespoons)

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Walnuts (15 pieces)

Pomegranate Seeds (1 tea glass)

Preparation of  

Put all the milk in the pot and boil it for a while. Then wait a while for it to become warm. Add 4 tablespoons of Filtered Flower, Highland and Lowland Honey to the warm milk and mix well. At this stage, you can add 2-3 drops of rose water into the milk depending on your preference. Take a leaf from the Güllaç and place it in a suitable tray or baking tray. Then pour a ladle of honey milk over the leaf and do the same for the second leaf. Sprinkle some of the walnuts you crushed in a mortar onto the two layers of Güllaç you created. Cover another Güllaç leaf over the walnuts and soak this leaf with honey and milk. Finally, repeat the same process once again and sprinkle crushed walnuts and pomegranate seeds over your Güllaç. Leave the honey pudding in the refrigerator for approximately 2 hours to completely absorb the milk. Remove the honey pudding from the refrigerator and cut it into slices of desired size. You can serve the Güllacı on a serving plate on its own or with ice cream.

Honey Fruit Bowl

Materials

• 2 tablespoons of oatmeal

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• 1 glass of homemade yoghurt

• 15 raw almonds

• One teaspoon of flaxseed

• 2 teaspoons of Filtered Flower Plateau and Lowland Honey

• To decorate it; Thinly sliced ​​medium banana, coconut powder

Preparation of  

Let's add oatmeal, homemade yoghurt, raw almonds, flax seeds and honey to the blender, mix for 2 minutes and then transfer them to the serving bowl. Let's add sliced ​​bananas and coconut powder to decorate it. Enjoy your meal!

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Honey Basil Sherbet

Materials

Fresh Basil (1 bunch)

Lemon (1 piece)

Cinnamon Bark (3-4 pieces)

Cloves (3-4 pieces)

Water (1 liter)

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Filtered Flower Plateau Honey (3 tablespoons)

Preparation of 

Pour all the water into the pot. Then add cinnamon shells and cloves to the water. Put the pot on the stove and heat it until it boils. Meanwhile, squeeze the juice from the lemon. Add lemon juice to boiling water, stir once or twice and turn off the stove. After washing the basil thoroughly, add it to the boiling water with its stems. Close the lid of the pot and wait for 4-5 hours for it to brew. (After the waiting period, the water should have a pink color.) After sufficient time, strain the water of the mixture into the container you will serve it in. And add 3 tablespoons of Filtered Flower Plateau Honey and mix. To consume the sherbet cold, keep it in the refrigerator for 1-2 hours.

Source: HORECA Trend and Balparmak

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Betav Balcılık Chairman of the Board of Directors Hasan Dalkıran: “Follow the Traces of the Beekeeper”

BETAV Honeykeeping and Beekeeping Inc. Chairman of the Board of Directors Hasan Dalkıran emphasized the importance of natural honey and gave important warnings to consumers to avoid fake honey traps.

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Explaining the basic rules to be followed to ensure the quality and reliability of honey. BETAV Honeykeeping and Beekeeping Inc. Chairman of the Board Hasan Dalkıranpointed out the importance of being a conscious consumer in order to protect our health and support local beekeeping.

Dalkıran made the following warnings:

“Pay attention to the source of honey”

Dalkıran said, "The origin of honey is a determining factor for the production process" and stated that honey from reliable sources should be preferred. Emphasizing that local producers and farms are generally more reliable, Dalkıran stated that in this way the source of honey can be better controlled.

“Review the Content”

Pointing out that the honey label should be read carefully, Dalkıran said, "The content of natural honey should be only honey." Stating that honey containing sugar or other additives should be avoided, Dalkıran said that since fake honey is produced by adding sweeteners or sugar, these details should be paid special attention to.

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“Crystallization Control”

Dalkıran said that honey can crystallize, which is a natural process, and pointed out that some fake honey can crystallize quickly. For this reason, he pointed out that honey that crystallizes quickly is probably processed or fake honey.

"Price tag"

Stating that the production process and processing of real natural honey requires a certain cost, Dalkıran said, "If a honey offer is very cheap, then be careful." He emphasized that extremely cheap honey is often problematic in terms of quality and reliability.

“Follow the Traces of the Beekeeper”

Emphasizing the importance of trying to track down the beekeeper to find the source of honey, Dalkıran said that reliable beekeepers will not hesitate to promote their products and will answer questions sincerely. He stated that a good beekeeper would be happy to explain the honey production process. Dalkıran emphasized that local products are generally fresher and more reliable.

Why is Natural Honey Consumption Important?

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Dalkıran stated that natural honey has many benefits for health beyond just being a delicious dessert. Pointing out that natural honey can strengthen the immune system, Dalkıran said that the antioxidants it contains support the body and increase resistance to diseases.

Dalkıran also stated that natural honey has expectorant and soothing properties, thus it can relieve discomfort such as cough and sore throat, and it also plays an important role in skin health.

Emphasizing that Bitlis honey stands out when talking about natural honey, Dalkıran said, “Bitlis honey is a unique natural product that has been produced for centuries. "This honey is a rich source of both taste and health," he said.

“Beneficial for Both the Region and the National Economy”

Dalkıran explained the benefits of Bitlis honey as follows:

The high antioxidant content of Bitlis honey is very beneficial for the body. It is also a source of income for our local beekeepers who produce this product. Bitlis honey also makes a significant contribution to the economy of the region.

Bitlis honey is not only a food product but also a part of Bitlis' cultural heritage.

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The protection and promotion of this special honey, which has been awarded worldwide, plays an important role in both the development of the region and international promotion.

Source: HORECA Trend and BETAV Honeykeeping and Beekeeping Inc.

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