Saturday, December 24, 2011

Wedderspoon Caught Misrepresenting the Potency of its Manuka Honey


A laboratory analysis reveals that the Canadian supplier has been selling Manuka honey with little to no antibacterial activity and passing it off as bioactive.

All types of honey have the ability to produce low levels of hydrogen peroxide, which is a natural antibacterial agent. What makes Manuka honey from New Zealand different is that, in addition to its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide, it also contains a non-peroxide activity which researchers believe has a synergistic action with the H2O2, making it superior to other honeys in terms of its antibacterial activity.

The Manuka honey industry has been representing the non-peroxide activity on the labels of each jar of Manuka honey since the University of Waikato developed the Honey Assay Method. The numbers listed on the label of a jar of Manuka honey are comparable to a solution with the same percentage of phenol. For example, Manuka Honey with a non-peroxide activity of 15+ has the antibacterial equivalence to a solution that is 15% phenol.

Because of the impressive antibacterial compounds found in Manuka honey, it has become an extremely sought after commodity. It is also a very rare honey. As a result, the price of Manuka honey has steadily increased over the past few years. The cost of a 500 gram jar of Active 16+ Manuka honey can range from $40 to $60 USD. This is why it was difficult to understand how Wedderspoon could sell their Manuka honey for such a surprisingly low price.

The only conclusion is that Wedderspoon is not selling a quality honey. The results of an analysis performed by NZLabs on two different Wedderspoon products were disclosed yesterday. The analysis included a jar labeled as Active 16+ and another jar labeled as Active 12+, both of which were found to have non-peroxide and total peroxide activity of less than 8.2 which is as low as the test goes. This suggests that the potency of the Wedderspoon Manuka Honey had to be either extremely low or nonexistent. It certainly confirms that the honeys were not of the potency that they were labeled as having.

“This is not only unethical and dishonest, it’s an absolute disgrace,” says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International which is a U.S. importer of Manuka honey. “This type of inactive Manuka honey will not yield the same medicinal results that people have come to expect.” Buonanotte is concerned that if consumers use Wedderspoon Manuka honey, thinking that it is a high active when it is really a low active or inactive, it will make them lose faith in the potential healing benefits of this amazing natural resource.

Wedderspoon has been able to get away with this deceptive and fraudulent practice because the FDA doesn’t recognize honey of any kind as being an antibacterial agent. Therefore, they do not have a role in regulating the potency level of Manuka honey. Nevertheless, consumers have come to recognize the numbers indicated on the label as the potency level. Wedderspoon has twisted the general public’s understanding of Manuka honey’s antibacterial activity by misleading their customers into thinking that they were getting more than what they paid for.

It is uncertain how this news will affect Wedderspoon’s reputation or sales. This matter has been reported to the Office of the Inspector General, USDA, FDA, FTC and Health Canada. Consumers are warned not be fooled by the misrepresentation of Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey. If you are interested in purchasing quality Manuka honey that has a true bioactive potency, go with the many other reputable suppliers who accurately display the non-peroxide activity on the front label of each jar.

Tuesday, December 13, 2011

Manuka Honey Improves Quality of Life for Sick Dog


The following testimonial is from a customer who used Honeymark brand Manuka honey to help her dog with various health conditions.

It has been quite a while since I last emailed you and I wanted to wait until Tasha's saga played out. As you remember, Tasha is the Labrador retriever who we spayed last year. The veterinarian performed the procedure horribly, leaving her with a scarred and closed nasal passage with 25% blockage in her esophagus.

I am pleased to report to you that Tasha is doing very well. In fact, we have also been using Manuka honey for her stomach which was negatively affected from all of the antibiotics that she was on while we were trying to save her life the pharmaceutical way.

We have continued to amaze her doctors with her progress. She is now infection-free, maintained only by the Manuka honey which I give her once per day for her sinuses. She also receives 1/4 teaspoon in water, prior to eating for acid reflux disease.

Her exercise is limited due to the difficulty she has breathing. However, she is an otherwise happy and healthy dog now and plays other dogs, goes to parks for short walks and other public places where she can interact with people. She is an incredible ambassador of the Manuka honey and I always mention it when we tell people about that part of her life.

None of this would be possible today had it not been for your Manuka honey. All of the pharmaceuticals had failed Tasha. She had a horrible infection in her sinuses through her esophagus and the antibiotics were unable to cure it. We were slowly losing her to infection until I put her on the Manuka honey nasal wash. I believe it was this that saved her life and now it is providing her relief for her acid reflux problem.

Thank you for all of the help you provided during her illness. My hope is that other people will learn about Manuka honey and its incredible healing powers. Tasha has an Internal Medicine Specialist who has performed multiple procedures on her and is now doing a life study of her as there is nothing documented that follows a canine who has had these traumas. I hope that when he publishes his article that he gives full credit to the Manuka honey. I believe that he will since he has not prescribed any antibiotics to her since we started the Manuka honey regiment. He remains committed to only treating her with the Manuka honey.

When I asked our veterinarian about the condition of Tasha's tissues following the last procedure, he said that both the sinus areas and her esophagus looked perfectly normal and that there was no infection present anywhere. While the procedure was unable to correct Tasha's problems in either area, the internal view of Tasha's tissue condition was worth a million words in terms of substantiating the ability of the Manuka honey to deal with infections in so many areas.

I wanted to thank you for all of the time and consideration you showed to the care of my dog, and update you on Tasha's good health thanks to the Manuka honey and your unending giving in helping me learn and understand how this product could offer so much. Thank you again for everything that you did to help Tasha live. Without your help, I honestly do not believe she would have survived much longer.

Sincerely,

Kathy and Tasha



To purchase Honeymark brand Manuka honey products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

The Non-Peroxide Activity of Manuka Honey

A discrepancy in the way Manuka honey’s potency is measured has consumers concerned that they may not be getting their money’s worth.

All types of honey have the ability to produce hydrogen peroxide which accounts for a portion of its healing qualities. Manuka honey from New Zealand is superior over other types of honey because, in addition to its ability to produce hydrogen peroxide, it also has a non-peroxide activity which researchers believe has a synergistic action in providing optimal healing benefits.

When researchers began to recognize Manuka honey’s additional healing components, they started measuring the non-peroxide activity comparing it to a solution with the same percentage of phenol. For example, Manuka honey with the non-peroxide activity of 15 has the same antibacterial potency as a solution that is 15% phenol.

Very often the number that represents the non-peroxide activity of Manuka honey is followed by a plus sign (+). This is because the antibacterial potency of Manuka honey has a tendency to naturally increase over time. For example, Manuka honey that is labeled as a 10+ had a non-peroxide activity of 10 at the time it was tested but it could be higher depending on how long after testing the honey is used. It could have potentially increased to a 15+.

There have been some trademarks that have evolved over the course of time that precede the number that measures the non-peroxide activity of Manuka honey (i.e. UMF). These acronyms are less important than the actual number itself.

One disturbing practice that has evolved out of greed is companies listing the total peroxide activity on their labels. This is misleading to consumers since the industry standard is to list the non-peroxide activity. The total peroxide activity is the amount of both the hydrogen peroxide and non-peroxide activity. Manuka honey with a total peroxide activity of 15 could have a non-peroxide activity of only 5. Manuka honey NPA 5+ is not potent enough to yield the same medicinal results that people have come to expect. Wedderspoon is notorious for indicating a number that represents the total peroxide activity, rather than the non-peroxide activity.

If you are interested in using Manuka honey for its renowned health benefits, make sure to use a reputable brand that can guarantee their honey has been laboratory tested for its phytochemical potency and the non-peroxide activity is accurately displayed on the front label.

For more information, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Tuesday, October 11, 2011

Friday, September 9, 2011

Saturday, August 20, 2011

Tuesday, August 16, 2011

Sunday, May 22, 2011

Monday, April 4, 2011

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Monday, March 14, 2011

Tuesday, February 1, 2011

Monday, January 31, 2011

Manuka Health

Manuka honey is responsible for improving health all over the world. Form New Zealand to the US, people have reported that the honey, gathered from bees that have collected nectar from New Zealand’s Manuka bush, has reduced acne and improved skin health. Studies are showing that patients struggling with cancer are benefitting from Manuka honey as well.

As an example of how Manuka honey can aid those suffering from a chronic illness, take for example, a terminal or aggressive cancer like mesothelioma. Because of frequent misdiagnoses due to subtle mesothelioma symptoms, the cancer often metastasizes before treatment is administered, meaning that treatment is extremely severe.

Radiation therapy, usually an external process, results in sores and open wounds on the skin. Also, many patients of aggressive cancers, like mesothelioma or colon cancer, become bed-ridden, leading to further epidermal blemishes. According to a BBC health news report, honey can be used to treat the fungating wounds and ulcers caused by cancer treatments and other side effects.
Manuka honey’s healing properties have also helped to heal surgery incisions by controlling the bacteria in the wound. In fact, staphylococcus aureus, the bacteria most commonly found in wound and sore infections, is most affected by the honey’s hydrogen peroxide and glucose oxidase properties, good news since this particular strain of bacteria is penicillin-resistant.

So, even if you have mesothelioma, colon cancer, or a strong case of acne, Manuka honey can eliminate bacteria and heal infections, as well as reduce inflammation and fight viruses. It is improving the quality of life for many terminally ill patients and for many who may have less detrimental health issues.

Saturday, January 15, 2011

Bellatrix Beauty/Rockin' Mama: *SPECIAL* Product Review: Honeymark Mud Mask

Bellatrix Beauty/Rockin' Mama: *SPECIAL* Product Review: Honeymark Mud Mask: "Honeymark Mud Mask About Honeymark: Honeymark is an importer of Manuka Honey and a distributor of natural Manuka Honey products. All Honey..."

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Viability of Manuka Honey's Rating Systems


Manuka Honey brands confuse consumers with alphabet soup, i.e. UMF, MGO, AMH, OMA, MGS, etc.

Manuka Honey is a special type of honey from New Zealand that has been found to have extraordinary healing properties. Its incredible ability to heal far supersedes other types of honey and even most traditional forms of medicine. This has made it quite a commodity as of late and has recently been discovered by the U.S. market.

The sale of Manuka Honey has developed into a $100 Million dollar per year industry with the potential of increasing significantly over the next few years. However, there is one element of confusion that has been clouding the sales of this valuable resource.

The fact is that not all Manuka Honey has medicinal qualities. If you think about how honey is produced, it makes sense. A bee lands on a flower and gathers as much nectar as it can carry back to the hive where it adds enzymes to it, producing honey. There are many different types of honey. The differences are predicated on the floral nectar component and the flower that it is derived from. Depending on which flower the bee gathers the nectar from, it could change the color, texture, flavor, consistency and medicinal qualities of the honey it produces.

Manuka Honey is so valuable because the nectar of the flowers that grow on the Manuka plant has antimicrobial properties not found anywhere else. The potency of Manuka Honey is predicated on how much or how little of the floral nectar is used by the bees in a particular batch. The only way to properly determine the potency is to perform a laboratory test to measure it.

There are some organizations in New Zealand that have tried to develop rating systems to measure the antibacterial potency of Manuka Honey. The problem is there are so many and they all claim to be the most reliable system. There has even been some bashing and name-calling in various articles and press releases. At this point, consumers don't know which rating system to trust. Some labels say UMF, MGO, AMH, OMA, Molan Gold Standard, etc. These distinctions are usually followed by a number. The higher the number, the higher the potency.

Some suppliers of Manuka Honey have tried to identify that their honey as medical-grade by calling it active or bioactive. The problem with that is if it's sold in the U.S., the FDA doesn't recognize honey of any kind as an active ingredient. Therefore, making a claim that Manuka Honey is active in the U.S. is a violation of FDA labeling regulations.

To further complicate matters, some unscrupulous suppliers are labeling their honey with a higher rating than what actually exists in the jar. They are able to get away with it because the FDA doesn't regular honey in that manner. In fact, there should be no claims on the label whatsoever indicating that Manuka Honey has curative properties.

So what should consumers do? "Stick with the companies that are well known in the Manuka Honey industry," says Frank Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International which is a U.S. importer of Manuka Honey and manufacturer of Manuka Honey skin care products. "Once you've found a reputable brand, then use a medium range." For example if Manuka Honey is not potent enough, it may not yield the same results that people have come to expect. There have also been reports of people experiencing sensitivity to Manuka Honey that is overly potent. Therefore, a medium range is optimal for most applications.

Some people think that the higher the potency is, the more effective the Manuka Honey will be. This is untrue. With higher activity Manuka honey being in short supply, experts say that the medium range is just as effective as high activity, and more affordable. For example, a UMF 10-16 will be equally as effective as a UMF 25. There is no need to find the highest grade.

For more information or to purchase quality Manuka Honey and Manuka products, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.

Oh honey you're to sweet! HONEYMARK Review!

Saturday, January 1, 2011

About Manuka Honey and Honeymark Brand Products

About Honeymark
Honeymark is an importer of Manuka Honey and a manufacturer of natural Manuka Honey products.

All Honeymark products are:

  • Made with active, medical-grade Manuka Honey UMF® 16+
  • Made with organic and natural ingredients
  • Made without synthetic or chemical-based ingredients
  • Paraben Free
  • Free of artificial coloring
  • Free of synthetic fragrances
  • Free of genetically modified organisms
  • Free of mineral oils
  • Free of artificial preservatives
  • Cruelty free / no animal testing

About Manuka Honey
Manuka Honey is a special type of honey from New Zealand that has been found to have amazing healing properties, including but not limited to the following:

  • Antibacterial
  • Antiviral
  • Anti-Fungal
  • Anti-Parasitic
  • Anti-Inflammatory

Manuka Honey also contains more vitamins, minerals, amino acids and antioxidants than other types of honey.

Uses
Manuka Honey can be used to treat the following conditions:

Internal:

  • Stomach Ulcers
  • Strep Throat
  • Acid Reflux Disease
  • Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • Gastrointestinal Disorders
  • Ulcerative Colitis
  • Heartburn/Indigestion
  • Eye, Ear and Sinus Infections
  • Stomach Virus
  • Esophagitis
  • Gum Disease
  • Cold/Flu Symptoms

External:

  • Acne
  • Eczema/Dermatitis
  • Wounds/Burns
  • Infections
  • Ringworm
  • Nail Fungus
  • Athlete’s Foot
  • MRSA
  • Skin Ulcers
  • Pressure Sores
  • Dry Skin
  • Tinea

Manuka Honey Products by Honeymark

  • Acne Cream
  • Anti-Fungal Cream
  • Anti-Itch Cream
  • Antiseptic Spray
  • Anti-Wrinkle Serum
  • First Aid Antiseptic Lotion
  • Hand Sanitizing Gel
  • Liquid & Bar Soap
  • Lozenges
  • Manuka Honey
  • Mud Mask
  • Pain Relief Cream

Acne Cream
Effective in eliminating acne and clearing clogged and infected pores.

Anti-Fungal Cream
Eliminates fungal infections such as ringworm, athlete's foot, jock itch, nail fungus, etc.

Anti-Itch Cream
Effective in treating eczema, insect bites, poison ivy, poison oak, poison sumac, seborrheic dermatitis and psoriasis.

Antiseptic Spray
Heals and prevents infection in cuts, scrapes, burns and abrasions.

Anti-Wrinkle Serum
Eliminates wrinkles, increases the production of collagen fibers, improves skin elasticity and regenerates new cells creating younger looking skin.

First Aid Antiseptic Lotion
Heals wounds and burns while protecting against bacterial contamination and skin infection, including MRSA Staph infections.

Hand Sanitizing Gel
Kills germs on contact without the need for water, leaving hands soft, fresh and clean.

Liquid & Bar Soaps
Luxurious and delicate soaps made with all-natural ingredients that are excellent for cleansing and moisturizing the skin

Lozenges
Made with 100% pure Manuka Honey, these lozenges help to support throat health and kill bacteria in the mouth that cause gum disease, tooth decay and even bad breath.

Manuka Honey
Effective in treating conditions such as stomach aches, stomach ulcers, sore throats, strep throat, acid reflux, gastritis, heartburn, irritable bowl syndrome, etc.

Mud Mask
Replenishes and revitalizes the skin, restoring its natural suppleness and moisture levels while alleviating and soothing soreness, redness and cracking.

Pain Relief Cream
Effective in treating arthritis, backaches, muscle stiffness, sprains, joint and muscle pain.


Contact Info
Honeymark International
P.O. Box 15381
Boston, MA 02215
USA
1-866-427-7329
www.HoneymarkProducts.com