Multiflora Honey

Multifloral describes the mix of flowers, not a dose, so these questions from our naturopaths are mostly about choosing well, and about the one group who should never have honey of any kind.

A good fit if

• You're an adult buying an everyday jar and don't need a monofloral grade
• You want to know whether "manuka blend" on a label is a real grade or just marketing
• You're comparing a stated percentage with a jar that's been tested as multifloral by New Zealand's Ministry for Primary Industries (MPI)
• You enjoy the flavour and count its sugars as you would any other honey
• You're happy with a lower grade and don't expect it to do more

Check with us first if

• You have diabetes, prediabetes or any condition where your blood glucose is managed. Multifloral honey is roughly four-fifths sugars, the same as any other grade.
• You have fructose malabsorption or IBS, or follow a low-FODMAP diet. Honey is high in fructose and is often limited on those plans.
• You're thinking about it for a skin problem or a slow-healing area. That's a decision for a doctor or wound nurse, and the products used in research are sterilised medical-grade preparations, not food.
• You're buying it for a child over 12 months. The infant restriction lifts at 12 months, but the sugar and dental concerns don't.
• You have a weakened immune system, are having chemotherapy, or are avoiding raw and unpasteurised foods for any reason. Honey isn't a sterile food, so check with your treating team.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or our naturopaths before starting.

• Multifloral manuka (MPI-tested). Best known for: The New Zealand government's own definition of a manuka blend, and the honest reason 'blend' honey exists at all. Absorption: It passes the same manuka pollen DNA test as monofloral, but with lower thresholds for two nectar chemicals: 2'-methoxyacetophenone at 1 mg/kg or more (instead of 5), and 3-phenyllactic acid from 20 up to 400 mg/kg (instead of 400 and above). Typical use: The everyday jar. It's still manuka honey by New Zealand's own test, just with less manuka nectar in the mix.
• Monofloral manuka (for comparison). Best known for: What multifloral is measured against. Absorption: Needs 2'-methoxyacetophenone at 5 mg/kg or more and 3-phenyllactic acid at 400 mg/kg or more, on the same DNA test. Typical use: Usually the honey behind a stand-alone MGO or UMF grade, with more of the jar's nectar coming from manuka flowers.
• Declared-percentage 'manuka blend'. Best known for: A jar stating something like '80% Certified Manuka Honey' instead of referring to the MPI test at all. Absorption: The supplier's own claim about what's in it. It hasn't necessarily been through the MPI multifloral test, and we can't assume it has. Typical use: Read the percentage as a mixing ratio, not a grade, and check whether an MGO or UMF number is given for the manuka part.
• MGO or UMF-graded manuka (pick this instead). Best known for: A jar with its own measured grade rather than a floral-mix classification. Absorption: Reports methylglyoxal (MGO) directly, and UMF adds authenticity and freshness testing on top. Typical use: The better pick if what you really want is a stated strength number rather than a floral-mix classification.

Reference values. None. Honey is a food, and neither methylglyoxal nor the manuka-nectar markers are nutrients, so the NHMRC sets no Nutrient Reference Value, Recommended Dietary Intake or Adequate Intake for any of them.

Typical supplemental range. Australian labels give a serving suggestion, usually a teaspoon to a tablespoon, rather than a dose. Nothing on a food label tells you to eat a set amount each day, and the multifloral grade isn't a strength to adjust your dose by. It describes what's in the jar.

Upper level. There's no NHMRC upper level, and Australia's permitted ingredients list (Schedule 1) sets no maximum daily dose for honey (item 2575). The real limit is the sugar, and that's the same whether the honey is multifloral or monofloral.

Worth knowing. This choice is about what you expect from the jar, not how much to take. Multifloral is still manuka by New Zealand's own test. It just took less manuka nectar to make. What you need depends on your age, diet and health, so talk to one of our naturopaths.

Food first, where the diet allows it.

• Multifloral manuka honey / manuka blend: passes New Zealand's MPI test at the lower of its two threshold tiers
• Monofloral manuka honey: the higher-threshold honey most standalone MGO and UMF grades are made from
• Declared-percentage blends: state a mixing ratio rather than a lab-tested floral classification
• MGO-graded or UMF-graded jars: carry their own measured strength number, whatever their floral classification

If any of these sound like you, talk to one of our naturopaths or your doctor before you start.

• Babies under twelve months. Never give honey of any classification or grade, including honey mixed into food or put on a dummy. Australian medicines containing honey must state 'Not suitable for infants under the age of twelve months', and healthdirect advises against honey for babies under 12 months.
• If a baby who has had honey becomes constipated, feeds poorly, has a weak cry or seems floppy, get urgent medical help.
• Known allergy to honey, bee products or pollen. Don't take it.
• Diabetes, prediabetes or managed blood glucose. Multifloral honey is roughly four-fifths sugars, the same as any other classification.
• Fructose malabsorption, IBS or low-FODMAP eating. Honey is high in fructose and is often restricted.
• Weakened immunity or chemotherapy. Honey isn't a sterile food, so check with your treating team.
• Wounds, burns and infections. Don't treat these yourself. Published research on applying honey uses sterilised medical-grade honey under medical supervision.
• Teeth. Honey affects your teeth like any sugar, whatever the classification.
• 'Multifloral' describes how much manuka nectar is in the jar. It says nothing about methylglyoxal content, so check the jar for its own MGO or UMF figure if strength matters to you.
• If you take prescription medicines, check with your doctor, pharmacist or one of our naturopaths before you start.