What Does MGO Mean on Manuka Honey?
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a compound that forms in Manuka honey. The number after it is the minimum amount of methylglyoxal in each kilogram of honey. A jar labeled MGO 500+ holds at least 500 milligrams of methylglyoxal per kilogram. The plus sign marks a minimum, so the honey in the jar can test higher than the label.
Why Manuka honey has MGO
Most honey contains little methylglyoxal. Manuka honey contains more because of the flower its nectar comes from. Leptospermum nectar contains dihydroxyacetone (DHA), a simple sugar. Once the honey is made, its DHA turns into methylglyoxal over the following months. A lab measures the honey’s MGO concentration to check that it meets the minimum shown on the label.
What the number means in a spoonful
Milligrams per kilogram is hard to picture. This table shows the minimum MGO in each Caramanuka strength. A tablespoon of honey weighs about 21 g (0.74 oz).
| Strength | Per kilogram | Per tablespoon | Per 8.8 oz jar |
|---|---|---|---|
| MGO 200+ | 200 mg | 4.2 mg | 50 mg |
| MGO 500+ | 500 mg | 10.5 mg | 125 mg |
| MGO 1495+ | 1,495 mg | 31.4 mg | 374 mg |
MGO 500+ has two and a half times the minimum MGO of MGO 200+. MGO 1495+ has almost three times the minimum of MGO 500+, in the same size jar.
MGO and UMF
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor, a grading system for New Zealand Manuka honey. The UMF Honey Association licenses it. A UMF grade rests on four tests: MGO for strength, leptosperin to confirm the honey is Manuka, DHA as a sign of shelf life, and HMF for freshness.
A UMF grade checks more than MGO, so the association says MGO does not convert to UMF. It does list a minimum MGO for each grade:
| UMF grade | MGO (mg/kg) |
|---|---|
| UMF 5+ | 83 |
| UMF 10+ | 261 |
| UMF 15+ | 512 |
| UMF 20+ | 826 |
| UMF 25+ | 1,197 |
These are the association's own figures. Some sellers print slightly different ones. Caramanuka comes from Australia, so it carries an MGO number, not a UMF grade.
Which strength to choose
- MGO 200+ is our smoothest strength, with light caramel notes. Start here if you are new to Manuka honey. It suits tea, toast, yogurt and smoothies.
- MGO 500+ is richer, with stronger caramel notes. Take it by the spoonful or stir it into warm tea.
- MGO 1495+ has our highest MGO and our boldest flavor.
Check the MGO in your jar
We send every batch of Caramanuka to an independent lab, which measures its MGO and tests it for glyphosate. Each jar label carries a batch number. Enter it on our batch report page, and we will send you the report for your batch.