Confusing claims made by big packers are causing anxiety amongst Australian shoppers
Big supermarkets like ALDI Australia , Woolworths can not be trusted they are allowing big packers like Bramwells to lure Australian customers with cheap diluted manuka products while selling premium manuka honey to Asia.
I asked an Australian expert why some Manuka products so cheap?
"It is cheap because of the low MGO level of 30. The company is deliberately (I assume) trying to play off the UMF rating system of New Zealand and the NPA rating from Australia which uses the 5+, 10+ etc. Very confusing and there doesn't seem to be any strict labelling laws. An MGO level of 30+ is mostly every other nectar source with a bit of active Leptospermum, or very low testing Leptospermum. Medicinal grade starts at about 400 MGO."
Most of the time these packers blend tiny amounts of Manuka with inferior honey so they can call it Manuka. Some of NZ Manuka products were recently found to contain Neonicotinoids. Mitchell said some traces of neonics were present in all four samples collected from New Zealand.
"I think that even Kiwis will be surprised to know that three of the four samples were Manuka honey and all were contaminated," he said.
"The explanation of course is likely that most Manuka honey is mixed with clover or other 'cheaper' honey which is likely where the pesticides come from."
https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=11934014
The solution is simple don't buy Manuka honey from big packers that artificially blend honey. Only go with the mix that bees create. If you want to buy Authentic medical grade Manuka you can buy direct from a beekeeping family
at
www.medijelly.com.au
Every Australian family should have some medical grade manuka available to treat burns, scratches , throat infections. Manuka honey in many cases can be more effective than antibiotics.
https://www.medijelly.com.au/product/manuka-honey-mgo400-500g/
Remember to support your local beekeeper on the honeymap. Always buy raw honey and Australia still has the highest quality honey in the world.
https://www.beethecure.com.au/honey-map-2/
In the clip below Jeffery Gibbs explains why Manuka is also called Jelly Bush honey in Australia and what to look for