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Page No. : 1-9

ABSTRACT

The present study aimed to recognize and document the knowledge, a Beekeepers towards adoption of approved apicultural practices, food safety issues and potential human health risks associated with consumption of contaminated honey. The particular emphasis was given to presence of antibiotics and pesticides residues in honey. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was carried out and validated questionnaires were administered to 105 beekeepers from Northern India. Majority of respondents were aware of antibiotics and pesticides usage in agriculture farming practices; however, only 45.7% acknowledged that their residues can appear in honey and 53.3% recognized that such residues pose risks to human health. About 61.0% of respondents declared that their apiaries are situated near botanical sources on which pesticides has been extensively used in the past and 18.1% admi to protect beehives from bacterial infections. We observed that safety measures taken against potential risks of pesticides exposure were inadequate. Statistical analysis revealed substantial variations in KAP among respondents. Large beekeepers’ with >5 years of experience had be (p<0.05) as compared to medium and small beekeepers. This study underline the needs for multidisciplinary ‘One Health’ approach to create awareness among beekeepers’ regarding health risks associated with residues of antibiotics and pesticides in honey and merits of approved apicultural practices.

Keywords: Antibiotics, beekeepers, health risks, honey, KAP, pesticides