Manuka Honey MGO, UMF, NPA, Kfactor, What's the difference?-The tiny Honey Company

Studies extensively conducted on manuka honey from New Zealand, emphasizing its health advantages and abundant antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

It’s the high methylglyoxal levels (otherwise known as MGO) in the manuka honey that make it so sought after and effective.

MGO content sits at the heart of most of the manuka honey numbers you’ll see on jars today.

Navigating through MGO, UMF™, KFactor, BioActive, MGS, and NPA can be overwhelming when searching for quality manuka honey.

This guide to simplify for you. Which system requires your focus, and what insights does it offer?

What Does NPA and MGO Mean on Manuka Honey

NPA and MGO refer to specific chemical markers in manuka honey.

MGO

The meaning of MGO on manuka honey is all to do with its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.

MGO stands for methylglyoxal. This chemical compound is believed to be primarily responsible for manuka honey’s unique health and wellness properties.

The more MGO in the honey, the higher the MGO number and the more potent the beneficial compounds.

Manuka honey jars with high MGO levels are utilized by medical professionals for severe health issues.

MGO numbers typically range from MGO 83+ to MGO 1450+.

NPA

NPA is the non-peroxide activity, which refers to the additional antibacterial activity found in manuka honey.

In other types of honey, much of the antibacterial activity comes from the presence of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). So the NPA value looks at the level of antibacterial activity that comes from other sources.

It is calculated based on the concentration of MGO, and it corresponds with the UMF™ equivalent grade of honey eg. 5+, 10+, 15+.

How to Identify Authentic Manuka Honey

Genuine  manuka honey must comply with the following criteria

1. The honey is produced in New Zealand. 
2. It is processed, packed and labelled in New Zealand.
3. It has passed independent tests by Ministry of primary industry authoried laboratories which states the test results for the batch number shown on the jar label. The test results for all four Manuka markers (Leptosperin + Methylglyoxal + DHA + HMF). 
4. The test results state it is MONO-FLORAL MANUKA HONEY

 The Tiny Honey Company uses Analytica Labs to test our honey and every batch is tested and guaranteed to be MONOFLORAL Manuka Honey with the quality stated on the label.  

• UMF™ (Unique Manuka Factor)
• K-Factor
• Bio Active

And these are the most common chemical marker measurements:

• MGO (Methylglyoxal)
• NPA

Let’s dig a little deeper…

Understanding UMF™, MGO, BioActive and More: The Science Behind Manuka Honey

          UMF

• UMF™ stands for Unique Manuka Factor, and was established as a grading system by the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) in New Zealand in 1998.

• It was designed to test authentic manuka honey from New Zealand to protect the integrity of the product and the best interests of global consumer

• BioActive measures both the peroxide and non-peroxide activity of manuka honey.

• This can be difficult to measure accurately as the hydrogen peroxide (H202) antibacterial activity degrades very quickly when exposed to fluids, heat and sunlight.

  BioActive has recently given way to MGO as the preferred grading system.

  KFactor

  So what is KFactor in manuka honey?

  Manuka KFactor does not reportedly measure MGO, NPA or Leptosperin levels. In the early marketing materials, it was said to measure and reflect the pollen count, but this seems to no longer be promoted.

  At the time of writing, KFactor focuses on 5 general pillars that are unrelated to the specific bioactivity levels in the honey. These are:

  • Traceability to the hive
  • Free from antibiotics, glyphosate and pesticides
  • Non-GMO verified
  • Produced and packaged in New Zealand
  • Raw and unpasteurised

  Whilst these credentials are important and valuable, they don’t provide and guarantee of the potency of the honey you buy.

  The Production Process of Manuka Honey

  In this section, we break down how our raw manuka honey is processed, from collection to testing and exporting.

  This way, you can gain a deeper understanding of what the manuka honey numbers mean and what to look out for when buying your authentic manuka honey.
  
  

  1. Manuka honey is collected from beehives in wild and remote areas of New Zealand.

  4. Samples are sent to independent laboratories for MPI testing to identify whether it is a mono-floral or multifloral manuka honey

  5. Honey is packaged and labelled in New Zealand and then exported (some companies export and then package & label overseas). At this point, companies will also place their specific grading numbers on the jar labels.

   

   

  Facts about manuka honey you may not have been aware of…

  Did you know…

  • It is illegal to import honey into New Zealand. Therefore, it’s crucial to verify that the manuka honey you’re considering purchasing is processed, packed, and labelled in New Zealand to guarantee its 100% authenticity.

  • The manuka plant is native to New Zealand.

  Mānuka is a Māori word used for the Leptospermum Scoparium tree.

  How To Test For Authentic Manuka Honey from New Zealand

   

  To maintain the quality of manuka honey, the New Zealand government imposes strict regulations on its production and sale to the public. The NZ Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) outlines legal requirements for exporting manuka honey.

   

  This includes a scientific test of 4 chemical markers and a single DNA marker in the honey.

  For mono-floral manuka honey, the test requirements are as follows:

  Test 1: Chemical test

  The following chemicals all need to be present and at these levels:

  • 3-phenyllactic acid at a level greater than or equal to 400mg/kg

  • 2-methoxyacetophenone at a level greater than or equal to 5mg/kg

  • 2-methoxybenzoic acid at a level greater than or equal to 1mg/kg

  • 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid at a level greater than or equal to 1mg/kg

  Test 2: DNA test

  The DNA level from manuka pollen needs to be less than Cq 36, which is approximately 3fg/µL to be considered legitimate (regardless of whether it’s monofloral or multifloral).

  This means regardless of the manuka honey numbers used on the label, a manuka honey must first pass the minimum testing requirements set out by MPI.

  The MPI test results also indicate whether the manuka honey is classified as multifloral or monofloral. This must also be clearly stated on the label.

  A monofloral manuka honey is typically labelled as ‘manuka honey’ and is considered of higher strength due to its higher manuka concentrations.

  A multifloral manuka honey must also be labelled as such, often called ‘manuka blend’, 'multifloral manuka' or ‘manuka honey blend’ on labels.

  What is a monofloral manuka honey?

  Monofloral honey is honey that comes from the nectar of one main flower. In the case of manuka honey, this is the mānuka flower.

  What is a multifloral manuka honey?

  Multifloral honey is honey that comes from the nectar of many flowers or honey that has been blended with other types of honey. If the manuka levels in honey are not high enough, the honey will then be labelled as a multifloral manuka honey.
  
  

  More on MPI testing for manuka honey

  All of The tiny honey companies products are independently laboratory tested to ensure that they meet or exceed these minimum requirements.

  These MPI tests give you the confidence that you are buying authentic NZ manuka honey, but they don’t tell you the strength or antibacterial activity of the honey.

  This is an important measure and is one of the main reasons why manuka honey is so highly sought after. For the additional quality measurements, further testing is needed to identify the markers relating to the manuka honey’s potency and authenticity.

  It is important to note that once the honey has been exported from New Zealand, there are no further measures or requirements from the Ministry for Primary Industries to guarantee the authenticity of the honey on the shelf.

   

  Counterfeit Honey! 

   There have been many cases of counterfeit and adulterated manuka honey being sold around the world, and this has become a big problem over the last decade.

  Leptosperin

  Testing for Leptosperin is the best way to identify genuine manuka honey, as it is specifically present in the nectar of the mānuka flower. It provides evidence that the honey tested definitely came from from the mānuka plant.

  MG / MGO

  MGO is the measurement of methylglyoxal in manuka honey. The higher the MGO level, the more effective the manuka honey is.

  DHA

  Along with Leptosperin, Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) is also present in the nectar of the mānuka flower. The maximum concentration of MGO in the manuka honey can be determined by its DHA concentration. That’s because when bees harvest nectar from the mānuka flower, the DHA is what’s transformed into MGO.

  HMF

  Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) indicates freshness by providing evidence about whether the honey has been heat-treated or aged. Some suppliers have been known to heat treat and age manuka honey to quickly increase the level of MGO content so they can sell it for a higher price.

  Look at the HMF level to ensure that you’re buying fresh honey.

  Want test results to show your honey is what it says on the label? Send us a message and we will send the test results. We are working on a QR code to scan which will show all test results and even the bee site it came from!