Why Does Comvita Mānuka Honey Have a Best Before Date if Honey Never Spoils?
Why Does Comvita Mānuka Honey Have a Best Before Date if Honey Never Spoils?
Did you know that honey is one of the few foods that never spoils? This golden nectar, cherished for its sweetness and health benefits, can last indefinitely when stored properly. But if honey doesn’t expire, why does Comvita have a best before dates on our jars? Let’s dive into the fascinating world of Mānuka honey and uncover the reasons behind our labels!
Comvita Mānuka Honey: 100% New Zealand Sourced for Quality
Comvita Mānuka Honey is proudly sourced from New Zealand, ensuring quality from harvesting to extraction and bottling. In compliance with New Zealand and Australian food labelling requirements, a Best Before Date is included to help you gauge freshness and quality.
This is particularly crucial for Mānuka honey, as the potency of Methylglyoxal (MGO) does diminish over time.
Understanding the Decline of MGO Potency in Mānuka Honey
For over 20 years, Comvita scientists have been researching Mānuka honey to understand the stability of its compounds, their influencing factors, and the longevity of their potency. A key compound, Methylglyoxal (MGO), is converted from Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) as the honey matures.
Initially, MGO levels rapidly rise before stabilizing at a certain point, after which they begin to decline—first slowly, then accelerated. This fluctuation can impact the MGO rating of Mānuka honey. If testing occurs at an unstable moment, the MGO level may appear artificially high, misleading consumers about the honey's true potency.
The UMF Honey Association (UMFHA) establishes a minimum MGO requirement for each UMF level to ensure consistency for consumers. However, depending on when the honey is tested, the MGO content may not accurately reflect what is indicated on the packaging.
Comvita 3-year guarantee
Comvita has identified the optimal time for bottling our Mānuka honey, allowing us to guarantee the UMF™ rating displayed on the packaging for a full three years. This is the Comvita difference, and currently, no other Manuka honey brand in the world does this.
When it comes to Mānuka honey, you can Comvita for unmatched quality and assurance—no other Manuka honey brand offers this level of commitment to potency and purity.
You can trust Comvita for purity, authenticity and quality. This is no ordinary honey.