Studies on Drug and Metal Residues Detected in Bee Products in Turkey

Abstract

This study was carried out in order to compile the information obtained from current studies in Turkey on the use of pesticides and antibiotics and metal residue in other bee products, especially honey, offered for human consumption. The beekeeping sector has been rapidly advancing towards industrialization both in our country and around the world. It is rapidly progressing towards becoming an additional income especially for families located in rural areas. Honey should be clean and healthy by nature. As in other living things including humans, various pesticides and antibiotics are used against viral, bacterial, fungal and ectoparasites in honeybees, although their use is prohibited. Therefore, there is a drug residue problem in bee products, especially honey, in our country and in the world. At this point, both bee health and human health are adversely affected. In order to prevent this situation, people working in the health sector, especially veterinarians, have great duties. First of all, beekeeper should be made aware, and researchers should accelerate their efforts to find the most appropriate treatment methods against honey bee diseases by researching natural treatment methods instead of pesticides and antibiotics. These studies should be supported by both the state and the private sector.