Applications
Where the evidence actually sits.
A curated, plain-English map of clinical and preclinical use cases — with the trial identifiers you'll want to cite.
Largest evidence base
Wound care & dermatology
Diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs)
Systematic reviews show shorter healing times and increased bacterial clearance with no glycaemic effect.
Burn injury
Cochrane reviews favour honey over silver sulfadiazine for partial-thickness burns.
Post-oncology MRSA decolonisation
Documented eradication in paediatric oncology using Medihoney dressings.
Post-surgical re-epithelialisation
Active double-blinded trials in tympanoplasty using 100% sterile Manuka.
Fastest growing
Ophthalmology
Post-cataract dry eye
2026 study: Manuka eye drops superior to sodium hyaluronate for symptoms and inflammation.
Meibomian Gland Dysfunction
NCT04457648 — topical 16% Manuka (Optimel) improves objective signs and PROs.
Blepharitis safety
ACTRN12616000540415 — microemulsion eye cream well tolerated.
Adenoviral keratoconjunctivitis
Promising adjunct to topical steroids.
Strategic — off-pack
Antimicrobial stewardship†
Synergy with antibiotics
Documented synergism with tetracycline, oxacillin, rifampicin against resistant biofilms.
Efflux pump inhibition
Manuka blocks efflux pumps in MDR E. coli, restoring antibiotic potency.
Biofilm disruption
Mechanical and chemical destabilisation of mature biofilms.
Niche advantages
Comparative honeys
Ulmo (Chile)
Comparative trials show greater efficacy than Manuka against certain MRSA strains.
Honeydew (Poland)
2024 data suggest stronger antiviral activity than Manuka in specific models.
Tualang (Malaysia)
High antioxidant capacity, studied in burn wounds.
Kelulut (stingless bee)
Promising healing rates for diabetic wounds in n=62 gel-form trial.
Experimental
Frontier formulation
3D-printed bioinks
MGH-infused scaffolds for precision tissue engineering.
Nanofibre dressings
Electrospun matrices preserving MGO release profiles.
Microemulsions
Sterile delivery to mucosal surfaces and the ocular adnexa.
Preclinical
Emerging biology
Neuroprotection
Honey combinations protect dopaminergic neurons in murine models.
Anticancer signalling
Manuka inhibits estrogen-receptor pathways in breast cancer preclinical work.
Accreditations & quality systems
The credentials behind every batch.
BRCGS Food Safety AA
SALSA Accredited
QMS experience
Independent partner labs
Product liability insured
Bespoke process
A bespoke process, and sterilisation, sorted.
Every batch of Medical Grade Manuka is handled through a process designed around your end application.
Bespoke designed handling
Tailored to your end application — personal care, skin care, wound care or medical device.
Positive Release process
Stock is released only once independent partner-lab testing confirms it meets your specification — in writing.
Full QMS specifications
Complete specifications available for your Quality Management System — product, packaging, transport.
Recipe & formulation support
Full specs from honey through to drum liner, lid and pallet — everything your formulation team needs.
SDS & technical documentation
SDS, CoA, declaration of origin, allergen, TSE/BSE, GMO, kosher/halal on request.
Sterilisation partners
Gamma and e-beam sterilisation arranged with vetted UK/EU partners to your validated dose.
Certified MGO content
High and consistent MGO, independently lab verified per batch with retained samples.
Low moisture & HMF
Tight specification suitable for pharmaceutical and medical-device formulations.
Medical Grade Manuka — specification
Engineered for advanced wound care, skin care and personal care formulations.
Indicative parameters for Medical Grade Manuka. Final specification is agreed in writing per contract and verified per batch by independent laboratory analysis.
MGO
350–800+
Independently verified by HPLC
Release
100%
Positive Release per batch
Docs
Full QMS
SDS · CoA · TSE/BSE
Accreditation
BRCGS AA · SALSA
UK partner facilities
| Parameter | Typical value | Method |
|---|---|---|
| MGO (Methylglyoxal) | 350 – 800+ mg/kg | HPLC, partner lab |
| DHA (Dihydroxyacetone) | ≥ 700 mg/kg | HPLC |
| Leptosperin | ≥ 100 mg/kg | HPLC (authenticity marker) |
| Moisture | ≤ 18.5% | Refractometry |
| HMF (Hydroxymethylfurfural) | ≤ 10 mg/kg | HPLC / spectrophotometry |
| Diastase activity | ≥ 8 DN (Schade) | Phadebas / Schade |
| Electrical conductivity | ≤ 0.8 mS/cm | Conductivity meter |
| Free acidity | ≤ 50 meq/kg | Titration |
| Pollen analysis | Leptospermum scoparium dominant | Melissopalynology |
| Total Plate Count | < 100 cfu/g | Plate count method |
| Yeasts & moulds | < 100 cfu/g | Plate count method |
| Pathogens (Salmonella, E. coli, S. aureus) | Absent / negative | Standard micro methods |
| Pesticide residues | Reported per panel | Multi-residue GC-MS / LC-MS |
| Heavy metals (Pb, As, Cd, Hg) | Reported per panel | ICP-MS |
| GMO | Non-GMO | Declaration |
| Allergens | Free from declared 14 allergens | Declaration |
| TSE / BSE | Free | Declaration |
| Country of origin | New Zealand — region documented | Documented |
Values shown are typical. Tighter or alternative specifications can be agreed for pharmaceutical and medical-device applications. CoA issued per drum lot.
From estate to your recipe
Seven controlled stages. One traceable batch.
01
Sourced
Vetted, audited source. Country, region, harvest period and batch ID recorded; source identity held confidentially on file.
02
Held
Received into UK bonded storage in lined steel drums under climate control. Chain of custody opens at the gate.
03
Testing agreed
Test panel and acceptance limits agreed in writing against your specification before any work is committed.
04
Processed
Low-heat handling at BRCGS AA and SALSA approved UK partner facilities — preserving enzymes, MGO and DHA.
05
Tested
Independent accredited partner labs run the agreed suite. Results returned against the written spec — testing quoted separately.
06
Positive Release
No batch leaves stock until results meet spec. Sign-off held on file against the unique batch ID.
07
Dispatch
Unique drum / lot references link source → CoA → your finished SKU. Full document pack travels with the goods.
+
Sterilisation (optional)
Gamma or e-beam sterilisation coordinated with vetted UK/EU partners to your validated dose.
Sterilisation coordination
Validated sterilisation, coordinated through vetted UK and European partners.
Routing, scheduling and document handover are managed end-to-end alongside the rest of your supply.
Bulk honey
For bulk material, gamma sterilisation is the default route. Alternative validated processes can be specified.
End product
If sterilisation occurs at finished-product stage, the chosen process and validation rest with the manufacturing company.
Dose mapping
Sterilisation requires dose mapping at the cost of the Buyer. Bioburden, container geometry and acceptance criteria agreed in writing.
Lead time
Sterilisation can add up to 24 weeks onto lead time. Plan procurement windows accordingly.
Recommendation: medical-grade honey should be sterilised prior to use, or the finished end-product should be sterilised. Sterilisation is a service we coordinate — final clinical, regulatory and validation responsibility rests with the Buyer.
Documentation register & formats
Every document your QMS, regulatory and audit teams will ask for.
Pack supplied per batch
- Certificate of Analysis (CoA)Per drum lot
- Specification sheetProduct & packaging
- Safety Data Sheet (SDS)Standard 16-section format
- Declaration of OriginCountry & region; producer confidential
- Allergen declarationStandard allergen panel
- TSE / BSE statementFree-from
- GMO statementNon-GMO
- Pesticide residue reportMulti-residue panel
- Heavy metals reportICP-MS
- Microbiological reportStandard micro panel
- Kosher / HalalOn request
- Sterilisation coordinationWhere applicable
- Chain of custody / traceabilityDrum → CoA → SKU
Testing arranged through accredited partner laboratories — Minerva Scientific, QSI, Fera Science — or your nominated lab. Testing is quoted and invoiced separately.
Format
280 kg lined steel drums
Food-grade lined steel drums on heat-treated pallets — the standard format for manufacturers and contract sterilisation. Tamper-evident, fully documented.
Format
25 kg food-grade pails
Food-grade HDPE pails with sealed tamper-evident lids — ideal for smaller-batch formulators, R&D and pilot runs.
Sourcing partner
BulkHoneyCo — Medical Grade Manuka →
Full specification pack, sterilisation coordination and UK warehousing for clinical formulators.
Buyer & regulatory FAQ
Answers your QA, regulatory and procurement teams need.
Can you supply to our written specification?+
Yes. We work to your specification document, agreed in writing, and Positive Release against it batch by batch.
Is the honey suitable for medical devices?+
Yes — Medical Grade Manuka is supplied to formulators of Class I and Class IIa/IIb wound-care devices. We coordinate validated sterilisation with vetted partners.
What MGO levels are available?+
Medical Grade Manuka starts at MGO 350+ and runs up to MGO 800+, independently verified by HPLC. Higher MGO and NPA-equivalent grades available on request.
Do you provide CoA per batch?+
Yes — every drum lot ships with a Certificate of Analysis from an accredited partner lab, plus retained samples.
Can we audit your supply chain?+
Yes. Customer audits and warehouse inspection are welcomed. Producer identities are commercially confidential, but full process documentation, batch records and laboratory data are shared under NDA.
What is the minimum order quantity?+
From a single 25 kg pail for R&D, scaling to multi-tonne contracts. UK warehoused stock enables fast turnaround.
Do you handle export documentation?+
Yes — EUR.1, health certificates, phytosanitary documents and customs paperwork for global shipment.
Is testing included or extra?+
Standard CoA testing is included. Bespoke testing through partner labs is quoted and invoiced separately.
Live brands
Medical-grade honey brands of the world.
A working list of the principal medical-grade honey brands in clinical use globally — owner, honey type, and what they're known for. Most lead with Manuka (Leptospermum); a few use other monofloral or supplemented honeys.
Activon
Advancis Medical (Brightwake Ltd, UK)
Honey: Manuka
100% sterile medical-grade Manuka honey — tube, tulle and alginate dressings (Activon, Actilite, Algivon).
ManukaMed
ManukaMed (Gentell, USA / NZ)
Honey: Manuka
Sterile Leptospermum honey dressings — WoundSeal range; strong US hospital footprint.
Surgihoney RO
Matoke Holdings (UK)
Honey: Bio-engineered (multi-source)
Reactive-oxygen-engineered medical honey for surgical wounds, neonatal and chronic-wound use; standardised activity, multiple peer-reviewed trials.
TheraHoney
Medline Industries (USA)
Honey: Manuka
100% sterile Leptospermum honey gel, sheet and HD dressings — widely stocked across US acute care.
ManukaFill
Links Medical Products (USA)
Honey: Manuka
Sterile Manuka honey filler/paste for cavity wounds and tunnelling defects.
Medihoney
Comvita / Integra LifeSciences
Honey: Manuka
The category benchmark — Leptospermum-based antibacterial gel, paste, alginate, hydrocolloid and HCS dressings.
L-Mesitran
Triticum / Theo Manufacturing (Netherlands)
Honey: Supplemented (multifloral)
Medical honey supplemented with vitamins C/E and zinc — ointment, soft gel, hydro, tulle and foam.
Melmax
SastoMed (Germany)
Honey: Multifloral + plant extracts
Honey-based wound gel formulated with plant extracts; CE-marked medical device, EU clinical use.
Revamil
Bfactory Health Products (Netherlands)
Honey: Standardised greenhouse honey
Produced under controlled greenhouse conditions for batch consistency — gel, balm and gauze.
Manuka (Leptospermum scoparium / L. polygalifolium) dominates the medical-grade category thanks to its non-peroxide MGO activity. L-Mesitran, Melmax and Revamil show that other honeys — supplemented, blended or production-controlled — also hold credible regulated positions. UK prescribers can cross-reference the BNF honey-based topical applications listing.