What is medical grade Manuka honey — and how is it different from the jar in the supermarket?

'Medical grade Manuka honey' gets used loosely. In a supply contract it has a specific meaning that goes well beyond a high MGO number on a retail jar.

Sterility

Medical grade Manuka is gamma-irradiated to eliminate bacterial spores (notably Clostridium botulinum spores, which can survive in raw honey). This is non-negotiable for any honey destined for wound contact, oral mucosa, or inclusion in a medical device or sterile dressing.

Activity specification

Typically MGO 350+ at minimum, often MGO 500+ or 800+ for licensed wound-care use. Activity is certified per batch by an independent partner lab — not estimated from harvest paperwork.

Traceability and documentation

Every drum carries a batch ID linkable back to country, region, harvest window and producer (held under NDA). The documentation pack includes Certificate of Analysis, residue screen, MGO certificate, declaration of origin, and where required an Export Health Certificate. This is the paperwork a regulatory affairs team will ask for on day one.

How it differs from retail Manuka

Retail jars labelled MGO 250+ or UMF 10+ are food honey. They may be perfectly authentic, but they are not sterile, the documentation pack is lighter, and the supply chain is built for grocery shelves, not for a medical device QMS.

What we supply

Bulk medical-grade Manuka from MGO 350+ up to MGO 800+, gamma-irradiated, full documentation, supplied under NDA where producer confidentiality matters. Our trade desk can quote against your specification and ship a sample for evaluation.