How to Spot Fake or Misleading Manuka Honey (2026)
Information in this article shouldn't be considered medical advice. If you are considering taking manuka honey, propolis, royal jelly or bee pollen for their health benefits and are currently taking medication, please consult your doctor first.
Why Fake Manuka Honey Exists
Authentic manuka honey is derived from the nectar of the Leptospermum scoparium plant which grows naturally in New Zealand. Production is constrained by geography, climate, short flowering periods, and weather conditions during harvest times. These limits place an upper bound on how much manuka honey can be produced per year.
Fake or misleading manuka honey exists primarily because demand significantly exceeds the amount of this honey that can be produced within New Zealand, along with its high price tag leading some to label cheaper honey as manuka so they can charge a premium price.
In many cases, this does not involve outright fraud but instead relies on vague terminology, selective disclosure, or the use of testing metrics without sufficient context. Which is why formal definitions, testing standards, and certification systems were developed.
Country of Origin
The term Manuka originates from New Zealand and refers specifically to Leptospermum scoparium. However, some Australian honeys are also marketed as “Manuka honey” because they are harvested from distantly related Leptospermum species, however recent studies have determined these plants to be distant enough to be considered two completely different plants. These Australian honeys do not fall under New Zealand’s regulatory definitions and are not required to meet New Zealand’s testing or identification criteria, so they aren’t subject to the same rigorous testing.
Certification Logos and What They Mean
Certification systems exist to provide independent verification of origin, composition, and labelling claims.
In New Zealand, the Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI) established a scientific definition for Manuka honey intended for export. This definition uses a combination of chemical markers and DNA testing to identify honey as Manuka-derived. The MPI definition does not appear as a logo on consumer labels and is not a certification mark. Instead, it functions as a regulatory definition that recognised certification bodies and independent New Zealand laboratories are required to follow.
MPI requires that these test reports, showing compliance of the chemical markers and DNA, are uploaded onto the national database that is used to generate Health Certificates. These Health Certificates are required to allow manuka honey to be exported to overseas countries that require Official Assurance such.
UMF, or Unique Manuka Factor, is an industry-based certification system administered by an independent organisation, the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA). It applies the MPI definition in their UMF grades to reflect verified ranges of specific naturally occurring compounds, including methylglyoxal (MGO), leptosperin, and DHA. UMFHA also require honey producers to acquire a paid licence to be able to put UMF grades on their honey, helping verify authentic manuka honey.
MGO is a measurable compound most commonly displayed on labels. When shown on its own, it indicates the MGO concentration in the honey at the time of testing, but by itself it does not address origin, authenticity, or broader compliance.
How to Buy with Confidence
To buy mauka honey with confidence, check for the following things:
- Check that the brand is a New Zealand-based business
- On the label look for an explicit MGO value and ideally a UMF grade as well
- And every label should have a batch number for requesting the official lab results
