✓ No active regulatory warningsFDA MedWatch, EMA EudraVigilance, WHO VigiBase, WADA Prohibited List · 2026-05-29
📰Read the full Manuka Honey evidence review on GMJ News →Complete clinical article, references and updates on news.gmj.ge. This page is the structured safety summary.⚠ Infant under 12 months given honey — botulism risk applies to ALL honey, not just manuka [1]
⚠ Patient using non-UMF-certified 'manuka' — likely fraudulent or diluted product [1]
⚠ Diabetic patient consuming manuka honey daily without carb counting — ~17 g sugar/tablespoon [1]
⚠ Patient heating manuka in boiling water — MGO degrades above 60°C [1]
ℹ️ Not obtained from food. Not applicable — this is a food/additive in its own right, not a nutrient with a daily dietary target.
🔬 Lab interpreter
Recommended test
No routine monitoring required
No routine monitoring required
Reference range / target
N/A
N/A
When to test
N/A
N/A
Monitor blood glucose in diabetic patients consuming regularly [1].
Full lab monitoring ↓⚕ For professionals — confirm ranges against your local laboratory.
Clinical verdict
Manuka honey's strongest evidence is topical wound care (Cochrane review, FDA-cleared Medihoney®). For oral use, the premium over regular honey is hard to justify — cough relief meta-analysis used generic honey, not specifically manuka. Two critical quality points: (1) verify UMF certification (fraud is rampant); (2) MGO degrades above 60°C, so never add to boiling water. Do NOT give any honey to infants <12 months [1] [2].
1 How much do I need?
👤 Adults: Specific dosage data under clinical review
👴 Elderly: Specific dosage data under clinical review
🤰 Pregnancy: See guidance
Safe for oral consumption in pregnancy. Botulism risk is for infants <12 months, not adults or pregnant women. Medical-grade honey for wounds is safe in pregnancy [1].
👦 Pediatric: See guidance
DO NOT give ANY honey to infants under 12 months — risk of infant botulism from C. botulinum spores. Children >1 year can consume manuka honey safely. Evidence supports honey for cough in children a
🏃 Athletes: Standard dose
⚖️ Obesity: Standard dose
Fat-soluble compounds may require dose adjustment in obesity.
🩺 Renal: Consult specialist
Dose adjustment may be needed in renal impairment.
🌱 Vegan: Standard dose
How to take
🍽 Timing: Oral: on its own or in warm (not hot) water. Topical: at dressing changes [1].
💊 With food: Can be taken on empty stomach or with food. Do not heat above 60°C [1].
🚫 Avoid: Adding to boiling water (MGO degradation). Giving to infants <12 months. Non-certified 'manuka blend' products [1].
2 Which form?
| Form | Bioavailability | Vegan | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| ['Medical-grade manuka honey (Medihoney®)', 'clinical', 'Gamma-irradiated for sterility. MGO 400+. FDA-cleared for wound management. Used in hospitals [2].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['UMF-certified manuka honey (food grade)', 'preferred', 'UMF Honey Association certification ensures authenticity and MGO content. UMF 10+ (MGO 263+) for therapeutic oral use [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ['Manuka honey lozenges/throat sprays', 'convenient', 'For upper respiratory complaints. Variable MGO content. Check label for MGO rating [1].'] | Standard | Check label | |
| ["Non-UMF 'manuka-blend' honey", 'caution', 'Often diluted with conventional honey. May contain negligible MGO. Not recommended [1].', 'orange'] | Standard | Check label |
3 Common questions
What do UMF and MGO ratings mean? ▼
UMF (Unique Manuka Factor) is a quality trademark administered by the UMF Honey Association of New Zealand. It correlates with MGO content: UMF 5+ ≈ MGO 83+, UMF 10+ ≈ MGO 263+, UMF 15+ ≈ MGO 514+, UMF 20+ ≈ MGO 829+. Higher numbers mean stronger antibacterial activity and higher price. For general wellness, UMF 10+ is sufficient; for wound care, UMF 15+ or medical grade [1].
Is manuka honey worth the price? ▼
For topical wound care in clinical settings, medical-grade manuka has Cochrane-level evidence and is genuinely effective. For oral consumption (sore throats, general wellness), the evidence is weaker and any good-quality honey provides similar cough-relief benefits. The premium ($40–100+ per jar) for oral use is difficult to justify on evidence alone [1] [2].
Can I use food-grade manuka on wounds? ▼
For minor cuts and scrapes, UMF 15+ food-grade manuka is reasonable. For clinical wound management (chronic ulcers, burns, surgical wounds), use medical-grade manuka (Medihoney®) that has been gamma-irradiated for sterility. Food-grade honey is not sterile [2].
How do I know if my manuka honey is genuine? ▼
Look for the UMF trademark on the label — this indicates independent verification by the UMF Honey Association. More 'manuka honey' is sold globally than New Zealand can produce, so fraud is common. Genuine products carry a UMF license number, batch number, and New Zealand origin [1].
4 Clinical evidence
Strong
Wound healing (topical): a Cochrane systematic review found honey (including manuka) accelerated healing of partial-thickness burns compared with conventional dressings. Medical-grade manuka honey (Medihoney®) is FDA-cleared for wound management and widely used in hospital wound care protocols [2]. HIGH
Moderate
Antibacterial activity in vitro: manuka honey (MGO 400+) demonstrates bactericidal activity against MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and other wound pathogens in laboratory studies [1]. Upper respiratory symptoms: honey (not specifically manuka) reduced cough frequency and severity in children >1 year in a meta-analysis vs placebo/no treatment [1]. H. pylori: in vitro inhibition demonstrated, but clinical trials of oral manuka for H. pylori eradication have been negative [1]. MODERATE
Insufficient
Inflammatory bowel disease: preclinical anti-inflammatory activity; no human RCTs [1]. Oral mucositis in cancer patients: 1 small trial showed benefit of topical honey; replication needed [1]. Acne (topical): anecdotal and limited open-label data only [1]. Gut microbiome: preliminary data suggest prebiotic effects of manuka oligosaccharides; clinical significance unclear [1]. LOW
5 Safety, toxicity & adverse events
Absolute contraindications
✕ Infants under 12 months — risk of infant botulism
✕ Honey/bee-product allergy
Relative
⚠ Diabetes — it is a sugar and affects blood glucose
⚠ High FODMAP — may cause GI symptoms in sensitive individuals
🚩 Red flags
● Infant <12 months given any honey — risk of infant botulism [1]
● Patient using food-grade honey on a chronic/infected wound — needs medical-grade, gamma-irradiated product [2]
● Diabetic patient consuming 2+ tbsp/day without adjusting insulin — significant glycemic load [1]
6 Interactions
Drug interactions
Insulin / Oral hypoglycemics Moderate
Mechanism: Manuka honey is ~80% carbohydrate (fructose + glucose). Regular consumption increases glycemic load [1].
Effect: Hyperglycemia if not accounted for in carbohydrate counting [1].
Action: Count honey as carbohydrate. 1 tbsp ≈ 17 g carbohydrate [1].
Supplement synergies
Propolis · Topical: propolis tincture + manuka honey dressing
Complementary antibacterial mechanisms. Propolis (flavonoids) + manuka (MGO) may provide broader antimicrobial coverage [1].
Complementary antibacterial mechanisms. Propolis (flavonoids) + manuka (MGO) may provide broader antimicrobial coverage [1].
Zinc (topical) · Zinc oxide cream + manuka honey (alternating or combined dressing)
Zinc supports wound healing. Combined with manuka honey in some wound care protocols [2].
Zinc supports wound healing. Combined with manuka honey in some wound care protocols [2].
7 Regulatory
New Zealand (MPI): Ministry for Primary Industries defines and regulates 'manuka honey' labeling standards. 2017 science definition requires 5 chemical markers for export certification [1].
United States (FDA): Medihoney® is FDA-cleared as a medical device for wound management. Food-grade manuka honey regulated as food, not as supplement [2].
European Union: Available as food product. Medical-grade manuka used in wound care. CE-marked medical honey dressings available [2].
Australia: Both NZ and Australian manuka honey exist. Ongoing trademark dispute between NZ and Australia over 'manuka' term [1].
8 Cite this page
Vancouver: Pkhakadze G. Manuka Honey — safety profile [Internet]. Tbilisi: PHIG; 2026 [cited 2026 Aug 07]. Available from: https://supplement.ge/ingredients/manuka-honey/
APA 7th: Pkhakadze, G. (2026). Manuka Honey — Safety profile. Public Health Institute of Georgia. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/manuka-honey/
📋 Editorial information
Author: Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Institution: Public Health Institute of Georgia (PHIG)
Affiliation: David Tvildiani Medical University (DTMU)
First published: January 2026
Last reviewed: 2026-05-29
Next review: February 2027
References: 4 cited sources
COI: SupplementIndex receives no funding from supplement manufacturers. All content independently authored by PHIG.
Process: Systematic literature review
📄 License & reuse
Published under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0). You may share and adapt for any purpose with attribution.
Pkhakadze G. "Manuka Honey — Safety Profile." SupplementIndex, PHIG, 2026. https://supplement.ge/ingredients/manuka-honey/ CC BY 4.0.
GP
Prof. G. Pkhakadze, MD, MPH, PhD
Professor of Public Health · Head of Department, DTMU
Editor-in-Chief, Georgian Medical Journal (ISSN 3088-4322)
Chair, Public Health Institute of Georgia · UEMS Public Health Section
Educational and public health purposes. CC BY 4.0. Consult your healthcare provider before starting any supplement. Corrections: info@accreditation.ge. Publisher: PHIG