Manuka Honey Review

1. Determination of Dihydroxyacetone (DHA), Methylglyoxal (MGO) and Hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) and Leptosperin by aqueous extraction, derivatization, and UPLC (UV diode array) analysis.
2. Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) calculation using MGO, Leptosperin, DHA and HMF values according to Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) guidelines.
3. Chemical analysis for monofloral/polyfloral classification by quantification of 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (4-HPLA), 2-methoxybenzoic acid (2-MBA), and 2'-methoxyacetophenone (2-MAP) by LC-MS/MS. DNA analysis for monofloral/polyfloral classification from manuka pollen by DNA extraction of pollen followed by qPCR.
4. Quantitative analyses for lead, arsenic, cadmium and mercury arsenic by Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectroscopy (ICP-MS) for all products.

Tests were performed by one or more independent, New Zealand Ministry of Primary Industries-recognized (MPI-recognized), independent laboratories. Any product that did not initially pass (below) a test was sent to another MPI-recognized independent laboratory to repeat testing for criteria on which it did not pass.

ConsumerLab.com may modify or use other appropriate test methods if necessary to test special product formulations.

Identities of the products were not disclosed to laboratories performing testing.

Passing Score:^*
To be "Approved" by ConsumerLab.com, a product must meet the following requirements:

1. Methylglyoxal (MGO): Contain 100% and no more than 150% of claimed value. If not claimed, the amount determined by UPLC (UV diode array) analysis will be reported and used in the UMF calculation.
2. Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) calculated using UMFHA guidelines must match the labeled UMF value. If no value is claimed the calculated value will be reported.
3. HMF value should not exceed 40 mg/kg in fresh manuka honey with an additional allowance of up to 15 mg/kg for each year since certified production but not to exceed a total HMF value of 85 mg/kg.
4. Monofloral/polyfloral classification: The chemicals listed below must be present and at the following levels (Animal Products Notice - General Export Requirements for Bee Products, 2018):
   • 4-hydroxyphenyllactic acid (4-HPLA) at a level greater than or equal to 1 mg/kg.
   • 2-methoxybenzoic acid (2-MBA) at a level greater than or equal to 1 mg/kg.
   • 2'-methoxyacetophenone (2-MAP) at a level greater than or equal to 5 mg/kg.
   • 3-phenyllactic acid (3-PLA) at a level greater than or equal to 400 mg/kg.
   • 2'-methoxyacetophenone (2-MAP) at a level greater than or equal to 5 mg/kg.
   • DNA level from manuka pollen is less than Cq 36, which is approximately 3 fg/μL.
5. Heavy Metals: All products must not exceed the following limits:
   Lead:
   • Products marketed for use by children under 12 years of age or by pregnant or nursing women may not exceed the State of California's Prop 65 limits for lead in dietary supplements of 0.5 mcg per recommended daily serving with an additional allowance of 0.8 mcg if the product contains more than 1,000 mg/day of calcium. Products with a single serving weight of less than 5 grams that are not marketed for use by children under 12 years of age, may not exceed the State of California's Prop 65 limits for lead in dietary supplements of 0.5 mcg per recommended daily serving (above which a warning regarding reproductive harm, birth defects, or cancer risks is required in California) with an additional allowance of 0.4 mcg if containing 250-999 mg/day of any combination of elemental calcium, magnesium and potassium or 0.8 mcg if containing more than 1,000 mg/day of any combination of these minerals. An additional allowance of 0.5 mcg is provided if containing 250-999 mg/day of whole herb (not extract) or 1.0 mcg if containing 1000 mg/day or more of whole herb (not extract). However, total lead allowance must not exceed 2 mcg per daily serving.
   • Products with single serving weights of 5 grams or more that are not marketed for children under 12 years of age may not exceed 2.5 mcg per serving nor 4.0 mcg per daily serving.
   Arsenic:
   • Contain less than 10 micrograms of total arsenic per daily serving (based on Canada’s limit per daily serving of a natural health product, and U.S. EPA and state of New Jersey limit in 1 liter of water). Products found to exceed this amount were tested for inorganic arsenic and must not contain more than 2.1 micrograms of inorganic arsenic per daily serving (Canada's additional limit in natural health products).
   Cadmium:
   • If marketed for use by children under 12 years of age, may not exceed 3.0 micrograms of cadmium per recommended daily serving (based on Canada's limit for a child weighing 75lbs). If not marketed for use by children under 12 years of age, may not exceed 4.1 micrograms of cadmium per recommended daily serving (above which California's Prop 65 law requires a "reproductive harm" warning due to developmental toxicity and male reproductive harm.
   Mercury:
   • May not exceed 2 micrograms of inorganic mercury per daily serving (based on EPA limit for mercury in 1 liter of water).
6. Be in compliance with FDA labeling requirements.