Antibiotic residues in honey in the Chinese market and human health risk assessment

China is a major country of producing, exporting and consuming honey. However, the data about antibiotic residues in honey and their health risk remain limited. This study collected 94 honey samples circulating in the Chinese market, determined 20 common antibiotics from four categories in relation to the characteristics of honey samples, and assessed the potential human health risk. Antibiotics were overall found in 84.0 % of honey with a median concentration of 0.09 ng/g. Two or more antibiotics were simultaneously found in 56.2 % of honey. Quinolones were found in 69.1 % of honey, followed by sulfonamides (44.7 %), tetracyclines (26.6 %), and phenicols (1.1 %). Honey produced in China and honey with a lower price had higher detection frequencies and/or concentrations of quinolones, sulfonamides, or sum of all antibiotics. A lower detection frequency was seen for sum of all antibiotics in honey from commercial than non-commercial crops. The maximum HIs based on microbiological and toxicological effects were 1.80 × 10 −2 and 3.20 × 10 −5 for adults, respectively and were 1.59 × 10 −2 and 2.82 × 10 −5 for children, respectively. These results indicated an extensive antibiotic residue in honey circulating in the Chinese market, which varied with production place, sale price, and commercial category of nectariferous plants, and a low health risk on human. • Antibiotics were found in 84.0 % of honey samples collected from the Chinese market. • Norfloxacin, ofloxacin, trimethoprim, and tetracycline were most found in honey samples. • Antibiotic residues varied by production place, sale price, and commercial categories of nectariferous plants. • The health risk was low for human based on the current human safety threshold. • There might be a misuse or overuse of antibiotics in beekeeping.