We know; we’re a bit obsessed with Manuka Honey. There’s something that’s so satisfying and nourishing about the velvety gold, superfood in its purest form – raw, straight from the hive and untouched. There’s nothing like it, which is why we drizzle, swizzle and mix it into everything!

Like many of our fellow Manuka lovers out there, we recently became concerned about the issue of pesticide creep and cross contamination – particularly glyphosate – which has infiltrated areas of the modern food system. While all our Manuka Honey is exclusively produced by bees feeding off the Manuka bush on New Zealand’s pristine North and South Islands, we felt it was important to be able to provide 100% assurance and confidence that our honeys (and all of our products) are tested and guaranteed clean by certifications that you can trust.

That’s why we’re so excited to announce that all of our products are now fully certified Glyphosate Residue Free and meet The Standard of Certification from The Detox Project. What does that mean exactly? This certification “verifies that your product does not contain the World’s most used herbicide down to government-recognized limits of detection,” and we are sure proud of this achievement. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, Glyphosate “is a probable human carcinogen,” and we want nothing to do with this nasty chemical in our products.

Speaking of nasty chemicals, each year we test of 292 (you read that right) pesticides to ensure purity in our honeys. We are proud to undergo this extensive testing to vet the quality of our products as we currently have the highest level of food safety certification in the world.

All of our honeys are guaranteed authentic by The New Zealand government’s Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI for short) This is the only government-regulated and approved standard for Manuka Honey in the world.

Before Feb. 2018 there wasn’t a single standard, so misinformation and confusion were extremely common. Since this time, all honeys labeled as Manuka and exported from New Zealand are now required to provide their test results to show they meet the MPI Manuka Honey standard for each batch that is shipped.

The easiest way to guarantee that you’re purchasing fresh, real Manuka Honey is to look for these three things on the bottle:

1. “Packed in New Zealand”
2. The Fernmark Seal
3. “Raw”

We hope to encourage industry transparency through our devotion to these tests and lead by example to continuously provide genuine Manuka products that are untamed, vitalizing and utterly real.

We would love if you buzzed over to learn more facts about why The Detox Project and MPI are so important to us. To get all the bee-tails just click on website names above!

FAQ ON MANUKA HONEY STANDARDS

HOW CAN SOMEONE TELL IF THEIR JAR OF MANUKA HONEY IS AUTHENTIC?

The single best way to know if a Manuka Honey is genuine is to make sure the label says packed in New Zealand or shows the Fernmark Seal (an even higher stamp of authenticity for products produced in New Zealand) on the package – this guarantees the honey was tested before export, is authentic, and meets the global MPI Manuka Honey standards.

As of February 5, 2018, all Manuka Honey packed in jars and exported from New Zealand is now required to be tested to show it meets the MPI Manuka Honey standard before it can lawfully be labelled as Manuka.

WHAT ABOUT UMF AND MGO? I THOUGHT THOSE WERE THE BEST GRADING SYSTEMS FOR MANUKA?

Grading systems that rely on measuring isolated compounds within Manuka honey, whether it be MGO or the trademarked UMF membership organization, are inherently limited by the fact that chemistry can capture data at one moment of time and MGO is proven to be unstable over time and temperature variation. Manuka honey is made up of a number of distinct components, elements, and micro-nutrients which work in harmony to produce this multifaceted superfood. Manuka is simply more powerful than the sum of its parts.

Wedderspoon’s commitment to maintaining comprehensive Manuka honey integrity means that we do not focus on one chemical marker of Manuka. DHA is naturally found in Manuka and converts to MGO based on time and temperature. Unfortunately, this means that some Manuka honey companies take advantage of science to increase their commercial appeal and drive up the perceived value of their product by artificially increasing the MGO levels to their highest peaks before their eventual decline.

While all of us at Wedderspoon are aware of the marketing buzz that a high MGO or UMF rating might add to our products on the shelf, our team believes that protecting and promoting the natural state of raw Manuka honey best honors the legacy of our founders, the passion of our beekeepers and the holistic health of our customers.

SIMPLE DIY MANUKA HONEY MASK

INGREDIENTS:
2 tbsp Wedderspoon Manuka Honey
2 tbsp plain Greek yogurt
Juice of half a lemon

DIRECTIONS:

1. Mix all ingredients together and slather on face and neck, being sure to avoid the eye area.
2. Let sit for 20 minutes and rinse off with warm water.
3. Enjoy soft, glowing skin!

About the Author: The Wedderspoon Hive

Wedderspoon’s passion for holistic health is rooted in the rolling hill of New Zealand, where every flavourful drop of Wedderspoon Manuka honey is born. Their commitment to comprehensive Manuka honey integrity is rooted in the foundation on which they started their company – their goal is and has always been to bring the gift of Manuka honey to friends, families, and neighbours.