Genuine Manuka Honey every time.
With the global popularity of Manuka honey growing, the market has unfortunately seen an increase in mislabelled, diluted and even fake products.
To protect customers and the reputation of authentic New Zealand Manuka, we’ve worked with Fera labs on batch testing for more than ten years.
Why Independent Testing Matters?
Using the latest chromatography methods, Fera’s world class laboratories in York, UK, independently verify the MGO (methylglyoxal) content in the honey — the naturally occurring compound responsible for Manuka’s unique antimicrobial properties.
"We test thousands of honey samples from across the world," explains Fera’s Principal Scientist and Honey authenticity expert Dr Adrian Charlton.
"Testing is important, because when you’re buying an expensive product for your health, you want to make sure it is going to deliver what it promises."
While Manuka honey testing is mandatory in New Zealand under their export laws, the UK has no legal framework to define what makes Manuka honey genuine – meaning UK consumers could unwittingly be buying an untested product which contains very little of the real thing!
"Manuka Doctor’s honey consistently meets the markers we expect from Genuine New Zealand Manuka. It’s the kind of data integrity that gives consumers real confidence" commented Adrian.
Tested for Purity, Potency and Provenance
"MGO testing means checking whether the batch of honey contains the right level of Methylglyoxal, and that it’s true to label" said Mark Harrison, Fera’s Team Leader for Authenticity.
"That’s important because MGO is the compound in Manuka honey which provides its anti-microbial properties. In layman’s terms, MGO helps kill bugs and bacteria. And the higher the level of MGO, the stronger this effect."
Mark continued: "Manuka companies tend to express the grade by writing the amount of MGO in mg per kg. So, a 100 MGO Manuka will contain at least 100 milligrams of Methylglyoxal per Kilogram."
As well as the independent lab testing undertaken at Fera, every batch of our Manuka Doctor’s honey is also tested for a number of other compounds in New Zealand under the Ministry of Primary industries (MPI) export test, before being packed into individual jars at source.
Dr Charlton concluded: "Consumers are right to demand transparency when buying premium products like Manuka honey. At Fera, our role is to hold producers to the highest possible standard and Manuka Doctor continues to meet that benchmark."
Setting the Standard for Trust
Matt Steele, Manuka Doctor’s Brand Director spoke about the successful partnership, commenting:
"At Manuka Doctor, we’ve built our reputation on being independently verified and medically trusted. Working with Fera gives customers reassurance from both expert insight and scientific evidence.
"When people choose Manuka Doctor’s honey, they’re getting a product which has been rigorously tested, certified and trusted by over 100,000 verified reviews worldwide.
"The next time you see an MGO number on your Manuka Doctor jar, know that behind that number is a network of scientists, beekeepers, and experts committed to a 100% Genuine product."
As demand for Manuka honey continues to grow, rigorous independent testing plays a vital role in protecting consumers and maintaining trust in the product. By verifying key markers such as MGO levels, authenticity and purity, testing ensures that products deliver the quality and benefits they promise.
For consumers, it provides confidence that they are purchasing genuine New Zealand Manuka honey; for producers, it demonstrates a commitment to transparency, integrity and the highest industry standards.
