Would you like to find out more about the special Methylglyoxal in Manuka honey?

What is MGO in manuka honey - and why is it so special?

Manuka honey from New Zealand is considered to be something very special worldwide. What sets it apart from conventional honey is a natural ingredient called methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. This substance is only found in exceptionally high concentrations in manuka honey - and it is precisely this content that makes the honey so special.

Where does MGO in honey come from?

The origin of MGO lies in the New Zealand South Sea myrtle (Leptospermum scoparium), also known as manuka. The flowers of this plant contain a natural sugar called dihydroxyacetone (DHA). When bees collect the nectar from these flowers and process it into honey, DHA is gradually converted into methylglyoxal in the honeycomb - a process that happens naturally.

This process is what sets Manuka honey apart from other honeys. While all honey has specific properties, Manuka honey naturally contains a significantly higher concentration of MGO.

What does the MGO value on the label mean?

The MGO value indicates how many milligrams of methylglyoxal are contained in one kilogram of honey. For example, a honey with the indication MGO 650+ contains at least 650 milligrams of methylglyoxal per kilogram of honey.

The higher the MGO value, the rarer and more valuable the honey. This is because honeys with a high MGO content can only be harvested in small quantities - they are the result of certain weather conditions, flower availability and ripening time.

Who tests the MGO content?

To ensure that the MGO information on the label is reliable, the content is tested exclusively in independent, certified laboratories in New Zealand. These laboratories are officially recognized by the International Accreditation New Zealand (IANZ) and work according to international standards.

For the measurement, honey samples are analyzed to determine the exact MGO content. This ensures that the figure on the label corresponds to the actual content.

MGO, UMF, NPA - what do the different terms mean?

In the past, different terms were used to evaluate Manuka honey, for example UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) or NPA (Non-Peroxide Activity). Today, these systems have in many cases been replaced by the MGO system, as it allows a clear, transparent indication of the actual amount of the relevant substance: methylglyoxal.

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