Latest news with #ManukaDoctor
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
and why glass jars might be a red flag
A wide range of honey jars on UK shelves – but nearly half could be adulterated with sugar syrup, according to EU tests | Canva This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. An EU investigation found 46% of honey sold in the UK is fake. And if yours comes in a glass jar, that might be your first warning sign. Sign up to our daily newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to Edinburgh News, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Nearly half the honey on sale in Britain could be fake. That's the shock finding from a major EU investigation, which discovered that 46 percent of products tested had been tampered with – and every single UK sample failed the purity test. The worst part? It's not just cheap supermarket blends being faked. High-end honeys like Manuka, often sold for four or five times the price of regular honey, are among the most commonly counterfeited. And if you've bought one in a glass jar, you might have already been duped. It sounds odd, but genuine Manuka honey usually comes in plastic, not glass. That's because proper Manuka can only be made in New Zealand, and the best producers, like Manuka Doctor, ship it straight from the hive in lightweight recycled plastic jars to avoid breakage and contamination. According to Matt Steele from Manuka Doctor, if it's in glass, there's a good chance it's been repacked somewhere else. That extra step opens the door to dilution or blending. It's just not how they do things in New Zealand. So while glass might look posher on the shelf, it could be a sign your jar was filled far from the source – and not with the good stuff. There are other warning signs too. If the label doesn't include an MGO number, there's no certified antibacterial content. If there's no batch code, the honey probably can't be traced back to the hive. And if the origin seems vague or mentions more than one country, it's worth walking away. Genuine Manuka should proudly say it comes from New Zealand, and nothing else. Genuine Manuka honey is only produced in New Zealand and should be traceable right back to the hive – like this jar from Manuka Doctor | Manuka Doctor Manuka Doctor's honey is harvested and packed in New Zealand, independently tested, and comes with verified MGO ratings and full traceability. You can get a 500g jar of MGO 30+ for just £7.84 while this offer lasts. This is the same honey recommended by TV doctor Hilary Jones, and backed by over 100,000 five-star reviews. It's the real deal – and it doesn't need fancy glass packaging to prove it. Glass jars might look premium, but when it comes to Manuka honey, they could be your first warning sign. If you want guaranteed quality, look for brands that pack at source, list their MGO rating and tell you exactly where your honey came from. Because nobody wants to pay top whack for a syrupy fake. Canva Get beach-ready with MySweetSmile's gentle teeth whitening range £ 20.99 Buy now Buy now Sunshine, selfies and holiday cocktails – summer is here, and so are all the moments you'll want to capture with a glowing smile. Whether you're jetting off for a beach escape or heading to a sunny staycation, MySweetSmile can help you look your best. This UK best-seller offers peroxide-free, gentle whitening that works its magic without harsh ingredients or faff. Their powder is perfect for whitening before take-off, while the handy on-the-go pen is great for keeping your smile photo-ready poolside. Shop the full MySweetSmile summer-ready range here.
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Health
- Scotsman
and why glass jars might be a red flag
A wide range of honey jars on UK shelves – but nearly half could be adulterated with sugar syrup, according to EU tests | Canva This article contains affiliate links. We may earn a small commission on items purchased through this article, but that does not affect our editorial judgement. An EU investigation found 46% of honey sold in the UK is fake. And if yours comes in a glass jar, that might be your first warning sign. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Nearly half the honey on sale in Britain could be fake. That's the shock finding from a major EU investigation, which discovered that 46 percent of products tested had been tampered with – and every single UK sample failed the purity test. The worst part? It's not just cheap supermarket blends being faked. High-end honeys like Manuka, often sold for four or five times the price of regular honey, are among the most commonly counterfeited. And if you've bought one in a glass jar, you might have already been duped. It sounds odd, but genuine Manuka honey usually comes in plastic, not glass. That's because proper Manuka can only be made in New Zealand, and the best producers, like Manuka Doctor, ship it straight from the hive in lightweight recycled plastic jars to avoid breakage and contamination. According to Matt Steele from Manuka Doctor, if it's in glass, there's a good chance it's been repacked somewhere else. That extra step opens the door to dilution or blending. It's just not how they do things in New Zealand. So while glass might look posher on the shelf, it could be a sign your jar was filled far from the source – and not with the good stuff. There are other warning signs too. If the label doesn't include an MGO number, there's no certified antibacterial content. If there's no batch code, the honey probably can't be traced back to the hive. And if the origin seems vague or mentions more than one country, it's worth walking away. Genuine Manuka should proudly say it comes from New Zealand, and nothing else. Genuine Manuka honey is only produced in New Zealand and should be traceable right back to the hive – like this jar from Manuka Doctor | Manuka Doctor Manuka Doctor's honey is harvested and packed in New Zealand, independently tested, and comes with verified MGO ratings and full traceability. You can get a 500g jar of MGO 30+ for just £7.84 while this offer lasts. This is the same honey recommended by TV doctor Hilary Jones, and backed by over 100,000 five-star reviews. It's the real deal – and it doesn't need fancy glass packaging to prove it. Glass jars might look premium, but when it comes to Manuka honey, they could be your first warning sign. If you want guaranteed quality, look for brands that pack at source, list their MGO rating and tell you exactly where your honey came from. Because nobody wants to pay top whack for a syrupy fake.
North Wales Live
25-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
'I used Manuka Honey for my hay fever and my eyes and throat thanked me'
A blocked nose, headache and itchy eyes that swell in the morning - like millions of Brits - I grapple with these hay fever symptoms during spring and summer. To see if I could alleviate my symptoms, I decided to put the Manuka honey theory to the test. Touted as a solution to 'help combat allergies and hay fever', Manuka honey is being investigated as a potential remedy for symptoms. While it's not a direct cure, this natural product is packed with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which are believed to assist sufferers with their symptoms. But how much relief does it truly provide? Intrigued by the increasing interest, I decided to give it a go myself. I took a teaspoon of Manuka Doctor MGO honey every morning for 11 days - and I've been taken aback by some of the relief I've experienced. Currently offering a discount in its 'summer wellness sale', Manuka Doctor has slashed its honey price by up to 65 percent. For those like me seeking to alleviate their symptoms, this is an opportunity to get it at a reduced price, reports the Mirror. I sampled three different strengths of honey - a simple multifloral of 70 MGO, a premium quality 540 MGO honey and a 1000 MGO Max Strength honey. Currently on offer, the 55 MGO honey has been marked down from £34 to £11.60. For maximum strength and an enhanced chance to alleviate symptoms, the higher 640 MGO Manuka honey is now available for £40.60, down from its usual price of £116. Manuka Doctor also offers Allergy Relief Supplements at a much more affordable price - £6.30 for 30 capsules. While I haven't personally tried these, they could serve as an alternative for those who aren't fond of honey but still wish to reap its benefits. The honey brand I used: Manuka Doctor Sourced in New Zealand, their bee hives undergo lab testing to ensure they meet standards and are certified for hive-to-home use. The brand reportedly has the backing of experts, including health professionals and doctors, such as ITV's Dr Hilary Jones MBE. A crucial component of this is MGO -- or methylglyoxal. Without delving too deeply into scientific jargon, this molecule plays a key role in aiding the body's natural healing process and regulating its immune response. Of course, it's not the only brand on the market. Holland and Barrett offer 70 MGO honey for £22.49, while LookFantastic also provides a 'Manuka Honey Blend' with 30+ MGO for £9.50. Four ways I incorporated Manuka Honey into my daily diet Each morning, I consumed a teaspoon of the strongest 1000 MGO honey, ensuring consistency and maintaining the same strength each day. However, I did incorporate additional doses with my meals. My next favourite method of consumption was at breakfast, either drizzled over a yoghurt bowl or blended into a smoothie. The latter proved an easy way to disguise the taste for those less keen on the flavour. Incorporating it into my meals was a breeze. I simply added a teaspoon of honey to homemade salad dressings three or four times. For those who enjoy cooking, it could also be used in a meat marinade. One dish I particularly enjoyed was halloumi hot honey, to which I just added some chilli flakes. How long did it take for the hay fever relief to begin? At the time of writing, I've been consuming Manuka honey for 11 consecutive days. I began on July 13 and have consistently taken a spoonful of honey each morning (sometimes straight, other times mixed into my breakfast or morning brew). By the eighth day, I could confidently say that I'd experienced some alleviation in my hay fever symptoms, with less itching in my eyes and fewer sneezes. The most noticeable improvement, which began around day three, was with my throat. Hay fever often leaves me with a dry and inflamed throat, but trialling the manuka honey has certainly helped. In addition to its high MGO content, I believe this is likely due to the simple fact that honey is soothing, and even shop-bought honey is a popular remedy for colds - like hot honey and lemon tea. Is Manuka Honey enough to help ease Hay fever symptoms? After 11 days, I've noticed a significant reduction in my symptoms. Primarily, the absence of a blocked nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat. All of which have nearly vanished. However, it hasn't alleviated the skin symptoms I experience with hay fever - namely, puffiness around the eyes and rashes. I also found that the taste of stronger MGO honey is quite different from the overly sweet supermarket honey I'm accustomed to - it took some getting used to. I hasten to add that Manuka honey shouldn't be viewed as a straight cure, but rather as something to try in order to alleviate symptoms. In the future, I plan to take an antihistamine daily for relief - such as Allevia, which can be purchased on Amazon for £7.59 (please consult your doctor first).
Daily Mirror
24-07-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
'I had a spoon of Manuka Honey every day to help with hayfever - the results shocked me'
There are claims that Manuka honey and its antimicrobial MGO can help ease the symptoms of hayfever, but does it work? Editor Harriet Morphy-Morris tested it for 11 days A blocked nose, headache and itchy eyes that swell in the morning - like millions of people in the UK - I struggle with these hayfever symptoms in the spring and summer. To see if it was possible to ease my symptoms, I tested out the Manuka honey theory. Dubbed a solution to 'help fight allergies and hay fever', Manuka honey is being explored as a potential relief for symptoms. Although not a straight cure, the natural product is filled with anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties, which are said to help sufferers with their symptoms. But how much relief does it give? Intrigued by the growing attention, I tried it out for myself. Taking a teaspoon of Manuka Doctor MGO honey every morning for 11 days - and I've been left shocked by some of the relief I've felt. Currently offering a discount in its 'summer wellness sale', Manuka Doctor has cut its honey price by as much as 65%. For those like me looking to try and relieve their symptoms this is a chance to get it for less. I tried three different strengths of honey - a simple multifloral of 70 MGO, a premium quality 540 MGO one and a 1000 MGO Max Strength one. On sale as we speak, the 55 MGO honey is reduced from £34 to £11.60. For a max strength and boosted chance to help with symptoms, the higher 640 MGO manuka honey is now £40.60 instead of its usual £116 price. It's not only honey, Manuka Doctor also offers Allergy Relief Supplements for a much cheaper price - £6.30 for 30 capsules. Now, I haven't tried these out for myself, but they could be an alternative for those who don't like the taste of honey but still want the benefits. The honey brand I used: Manuka Doctor Harvested in New Zealand, their bee hives are lab-checked to meet standards and certified for hive-to-home use. The brand is reportedly backed by experts, including health professionals and doctors, including ITV 's Dr Hilary Jones MBE. The key part of this is MGO—or methylglyoxal. Without going into too much scientific waffle, the molecule is vital in helping the body's natural healing process and regulating its immune response. Of course, it's not the only brand around. Holland & Barrett offers 70 MGO honey for £22.49. LookFantastic also offers a 'Manuka Honey Blend' with 30+ MGO for £9.50. Four ways I added Manuka Honey to my daily diet I took a teaspoon of the strongest 1000 MGO honey each morning, this way I kept it consistent and made sure I was having the same strength each day. But I did add in other doses with my meals. My next favourite way of having it was for breakfast, drizzled over a yoghurt bowl or blitzed up in a smoothie. The latter was a simple way to mask the taste for those not keen on the flavour. It was also simple to do during my lunches and dinners. Three or four times, I added a teaspoon of honey to homemade salad dressings. Keen cooks out there could also use it in a meat marinade. One of my favourite dishes was halloumi hot honey, to which I just added some chilli flakes. How long did it take to feel hayfever relief? At time of writing I've been having helpings of Manuka honey for 11 days straight. I started on July 13 and have consistently taken a spoonful of honey each morning (some neat, others added into my breakfast or morning cuppa). By day eight, I could confidently say that I'd felt some relief in my hayfever symptoms, my itchy eyes had reduced, and I was sneezing less. The most improvement, which I started to feel on day three, was with my throat. Dry and inflamed, hay fever has always given me a sore throat, but trialling the manuka honey has definitely helped. As well as the high MGO contents - I think that this is likely down to the simple fact that honey is soothing, and even shop-bought honey is a popular remedy for colds - like hot honey and lemon tea. Is Manuka Honey enough to help ease Hayfever symptoms? After 11 days, I have felt a huge lift in my symptoms. Mainly, the lack of blocked nose, itchy eyes, and sore throat. All of which have nearly disappeared. However, it has not helped the skin symptoms I get with hayfever at all - which is puffiness around the eyes and rash. Another thing I noticed is the taste of stronger MGO honey is so different to the sickly sweet supermarket honey I am used to - the taste took getting used to. This is where I agree that Manuka honey shouldn't be seen as a cure but rather something to try to help ease the symtoms. And going forward I will start taking an antihistamine daily to help - like Allevia which is available at Amazon for £7.59 (please consult with your doctor first).
Wales Online
16-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
This Morning's Dr Hilary Jones recommends special honey to 'boost immune system'
This Morning's Dr Hilary Jones recommends special honey to 'boost immune system' The food item has been described as 'liquid gold' by nutritionists and influencers for its health benefits Dr Hilary Jones has praised the ingredient for its health benefits (Image:) Honey has long been lauded for its health benefits, offering support to immune systems and acting as a treatment for ailments and sore throats. It's an enduring remedy that remains prevalent even in the era of advanced medicine. Yet, not all honey is created equal. Often referred to as 'liquid gold', Manuka honey is renowned for its exceptional qualities. This special honey is gathered from the nectar of the Manuka bush, which is found solely in New Zealand. Its high concentration of methylglyoxal (MGO) lends it antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. However, sourcing genuine Manuka honey can be quite a challenge, but thankfully Manuka Doctor offers several authentic products on their site. READ MORE: Dentist-backed teeth whitening strips 'blows away' shopper for 'brightening smile' READ MORE: Boots fitness box slashes £160 worth of MyProtein, Huel and Grenade to less than £2 each As reported by the Mirror, this includes a 100MGO double pack that currently boasts a whopping 84% discount, bringing the price down from £54 to £8.50. The trio pack which usually retails for £81 is now £12.50. TV health specialist Dr Hilary - who frequently gives advice on ITV's This Morning - has weighed in on the subject, commenting: "Manuka honey contains special ingredients including methylglyoxal, or MGO for short. This value indicates the strength of Manuka honey's health benefits. The higher the MGO content, the more valuable it is for us and the higher the price." Manuka honey From £8.50 Manuka Doctor Buy here Product Description Manuka Doctor has slashed the price of its Manuka honey which has many health benefits. Endorsed by a range of other healthcare professionals, Manuka Doctor stands as the leading independent Manuka producer from New Zealand. Their honey is harvested, packed on-site and undergoes rigorous independent laboratory testing, giving customers the confidence they are purchasing the genuine product. The honey meets New Zealand's Government's strict export regulations, and consumers can trace their batch right back to the beehives it originated from. Depending on the purchase, jars of Manuka honey range from 30 MGO up to a limited-edition 1300 MGO. The advantages of consuming a spoonful of this honey include aiding with colds and coughs, supporting digestion, and providing a natural energy boost. Dr Hilary Jones continued: "Consuming at least ten grams of honey daily is extremely beneficial from a nutritional and medical perspective and is therefore recommended. Twenty grams daily can also be helpful for boosting the immune system. Long-term daily consumption of high-quality Manuka honey is essential." Manuka Doctor is the only brand of Manuka honey endorsed by TV GP Dr Hilary Jones (Image: Manuka Doctor ) Over time, it has become clear that honey, especially Manuka honey, is one of the most frequently counterfeited foods globally. Instead of genuine honey, consumers often end up with fake products, as an EU inspection report in 2023 (titled From The Hives) found nearly half of the tested honey was significantly diluted with cheap sugar syrup. The investigation revealed that out of 320 samples, 46 percent were not pure honey. Additionally, DNA analysis commissioned by the Beekeepers' Association at the end of 2024 indicated that 24 out of 25 jars of honey from major UK retailers were dubious, falling short of being top-notch. Some brands still sell genuine Manuka honey products, including Lookfantastic which offers the Manuka Health MGO 400+ Pure Monofloral Manuka Honey priced at £63.99. It boasts of having a minimum of 400mg/kg methylglyoxal and originates from New Zealand. Elsewhere, Nisbets provides Rowse Manuka Honey 100+ MGO 225g for £11.99, known for its sweet, rich and herbal flavour. Customers are full of praise for Doctor Manuka, as buyer Bruce shared: "The honeys are certified, so you can be sure they're genuine. The difference compared to the other products was very significant; after just a few days, I felt much more energetic, focused, and positive." Another consumer expressed satisfaction with Manuka Doctor's 70 MGO Manuka honey, saying: "I am a New Zealander who grew up with Manuka honey before it was marketed for its well being qualities. As such I am very taste sensitive when it comes to honey... and this is a good one. Article continues below "I was shopping around to see if I could find a cheaper and equally good alternative to my normal brand and happily came across Manuka Doctor. I am super impressed by the quality, taste and sale prices which have made this honey really great value. Tried the 40 55 and 70 - all really great value." On the other hand, some customers were left unimpressed, with one remarking: "It was too strong for me." However, another shopper shared a more positive experience: "Lovely honey, very soothing on the stomach. Bought in sale so the price was a bargain. More balanced than sugar, very nice added to hot water and fresh lemon juice. Helped with recovery of my sore throat."
