Two Manuka honey jars can display different-looking numbers and still leave you unsure what you are comparing. One may say MGO 250+, while another carries a UMF grade. Are these two ways of saying exactly the same thing?
No. MGO describes methylglyoxal content; UMF is a licensed quality-certification system that includes MGO alongside other checks. A similar MGO concentration does not automatically give a product UMF certification. (1)
The most useful comparison starts with what each label measures, then separates that information from origin, traceability, taste and the price you are willing to pay.
What does MGO mean in Manuka honey?
MGO stands for methylglyoxal. Honey testing commonly expresses its concentration in milligrams per kilogram, abbreviated mg/kg; that is numerically the same as parts per million by mass. The Australian Manuka Honey Association uses this measurement in its authenticity criteria. (2)
For a simplified label-reading example, imagine a supplier specifies that "MGO 250+" means at least 250 mg/kg. That would be a concentration specification, not 250 mg in every spoonful. Check the actual label and supporting documentation rather than assuming every presentation uses identical wording.
The "+" sign does not mean a honey becomes more effective against every illness. It also does not describe a serving size or a percentage of the jar.
A worked example: concentration is not a dose
Suppose a laboratory result is exactly 250 mg/kg, and the jar contains 250 g of honey. Multiplying 250 by 0.25 gives 62.5 mg of MGO in the whole jar. This is an illustrative calculation, not a result for any Australian Honey Company product.
The arithmetic can help you understand units, but it does not produce a treatment recommendation. Knowing how much of a compound is present is different from knowing what effect eating it will have.
What does UMF mean?
UMF stands for Unique Manuka Factor. The UMF Honey Association operates this certification for New Zealand Manuka honey, with licensing and traceability requirements as well as testing. (1)
The association describes four testing factors:
| Factor | Its role within the UMF system |
|---|---|
| MGO | Methylglyoxal content. |
| Leptosperin | A marker used to help authenticate floral origin. |
| DHA | Dihydroxyacetone, a precursor that can convert to MGO. |
| HMF | Hydroxymethylfurfural, used in checking heat exposure and ageing. |
These are descriptions of the certification owner's system, not four separate promises that eating the honey improves health. (3)
UMF vs MGO: the practical difference
An MGO number and a UMF mark should not be compared as though both were simply measurements of the same size.
| Question | MGO information | UMF certification |
|---|---|---|
| What does it communicate? | A methylglyoxal concentration or declared grade. | Participation in a wider licensed quality system. |
| Does it include additional checks by definition? | The number alone does not describe the supplier's other tests. | The UMF scheme includes its specified checks. |
| Can it identify a medical dose? | No. | No. |
| Can a conversion calculation grant certification? | No. | Certification must actually be held. |
The distinction in the first two rows follows the UMF Honey Association's documentation. Other evidence from a supplier may add useful information beyond the front-label number. (1)
For example, an MGO-labelled product may also have origin records and independent test reports. It would be unfair to conclude that no other testing exists merely because the prominent label says MGO. Equally, it would be misleading to infer an unshown certification from that test result.
Can you convert MGO to UMF?
Charts may compare MGO thresholds associated with particular UMF grades. A threshold comparison can help explain a scale, but it cannot certify a jar. The other scheme requirements still matter. (3)
That is why this guide does not assign an "equivalent UMF rating" to an Australian Honey Company product. For a product to be described as UMF-certified, the actual certification and authorised labelling need to be established.
A useful distinction is between "similar MGO content" and "the same certification". The first concerns one measurement. The second concerns a product meeting a scheme's requirements. They should not be used as synonyms.
How does Australian Manuka honey fit in?
Australian Leptospermum honeys have been studied for MGO-associated antibacterial activity. That scientific work is separate from membership of a New Zealand certification scheme. (4)
The Australian Manuka Honey Association has its own Mark of Authenticity and criteria. Its existence should not be taken to mean every Australian honey carries the mark, or that Australian Honey Company holds a particular membership or certification. Check the actual product and current documentation. (2)
In practical terms, ask what supports the jar in front of you. Country of origin, a batch identifier and a relevant test report are more useful than trying to award the product a logo it does not display.
Is UMF the same as New Zealand's export test?
No. New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries describes an export-authentication definition using five attributes: four chemical markers and a pollen DNA marker. That government definition distinguishes Manuka from other honeys and separates monofloral from multifloral Manuka for the relevant export rules. (5)
This is another reason to keep concepts separate. Government authentication requirements, a private certification scheme and an MGO content measurement are connected topics, but they are not identical labels for the same process.
How to compare two jars without getting lost
Begin with origin and traceability. Then read what each numerical claim actually means. Where supporting documentation is available, check that the product or batch it refers to matches what you are considering.
Next, separate those checks from the kitchen decision. You may prefer a particular flavour, texture or jar size. Compare like-for-like weights and your intended use rather than assuming a bigger laboratory number settles every question.
Our Manuka tasting guide approaches that choice from the flavour side. For existing grade discussions, see MGO 100+, 263+ and 500+.
Frequently asked questions
Does an MGO-labelled Australian honey automatically have UMF certification?
No. MGO content is not a substitute for holding the UMF certification and meeting its requirements. Check the actual label and certification rather than calculating a new one. (1)
Does a higher number tell me which honey tastes best?
No measurement can decide your preference. Compare a small taste of each honey in the food you plan to use it with, and keep the amount similar so sweetness does not obscure the comparison.
Is NPA another word for MGO?
No. NPA refers to non-peroxide antibacterial activity, while MGO is a chemical concentration. Research has found a relationship between them in Australian Leptospermum honey, but they describe different measurements. (4)
Is a high-MGO food jar medical-grade honey?
Not on that basis alone. Food and wound-care products have different purposes and preparation requirements. See our medical-grade versus food-grade guide before drawing a treatment conclusion.
The takeaway
Use MGO to understand a content claim and UMF to understand a particular certification. Do not convert one into the other, and do not convert either into a medical promise. A clear explanation of what has actually been measured is more useful than an impressive-looking number without context.
Sources and further reading
- UMF Honey Association. UMF vs MGO.
- Australian Manuka Honey Association. Mark of Authenticity.
- UMF Honey Association. UMF certification and four-factor quality testing.
- Cokcetin and colleagues / PLOS ONE. The Antibacterial Activity of Australian Leptospermum Honey Correlates with Methylglyoxal Levels (2016).
- New Zealand Ministry for Primary Industries. Ensuring manuka honey is authentic.
Sources checked on 16 September 2026. This is a research-check date, not a publication or professional-review date.