Is Manuka Honey the Same as Medi Honey? A Critical Look at Medical vs. Food-Grade Honey

November 7, 2025 •

4 min read

Despite both originating from the same plant species, Manuka honey and MediHoney are not interchangeable, and understanding this distinction is critical for both nutritional and medical purposes.

Quick Summary

Manuka honey is a food-grade product for consumption, while MediHoney is a sterile, medical-grade formulation for wound care that contains Manuka honey as a key ingredient, not to be ingested.

Key Points

Not the Same: Manuka honey is a food-grade product, whereas MediHoney is a sterile, medical-grade product.
Sterilization is Key: MediHoney is sterilized (typically via gamma irradiation) to eliminate bacterial spores, a process that food-grade Manuka honey does not undergo.
Different Uses: Use edible Manuka honey for nutritional benefits and MediHoney exclusively for topical wound care.
Brand vs. Ingredient: MediHoney is a brand of wound care products that uses medical-grade Manuka honey as its key active ingredient.
Never Use on Open Wounds: Applying unsterile food-grade honey to an open wound is risky and can introduce dangerous bacteria.
Regulation Matters: MediHoney is regulated as a medical device, with FDA clearance and other certifications, ensuring its safety for clinical use.

Understanding Manuka Honey: The Edible Version

Manuka honey is a mono-floral honey, meaning it comes primarily from bees that pollinate the flowers of the Leptospermum scoparium tree, which is native to New Zealand and Australia. While all honey has some antibacterial properties due to its low pH and high osmolarity, Manuka is particularly well-regarded for its high concentration of a compound called Methylglyoxal (MGO). The level of MGO and other signature compounds is often measured by the Unique Manuka Factor (UMF) rating system, which indicates its potency.

For nutritional purposes, Manuka honey is safe for most healthy adults to consume daily in small amounts. It can be added to tea, spread on toast, or used in other recipes. Its purported benefits for internal health include soothing sore throats, aiding digestion, and boosting overall well-being due to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. However, it's still a form of sugar and should be consumed in moderation, especially for individuals managing blood sugar levels. Crucially, standard Manuka honey sold for consumption is not sterile and may contain bacterial spores, like Clostridium botulinum. This is why it should never be applied to an open wound, and is why it is not safe for infants.

Deconstructing MediHoney: A Medical Device

MediHoney is a leading brand of wound and burn care products that utilizes medical-grade Manuka honey. Unlike the jar of honey in your pantry, MediHoney is not meant for consumption. Instead, it is a regulated medical device specifically formulated and processed for therapeutic applications on wounds.

The Sterilization Process

One of the most significant differences lies in the processing. MediHoney undergoes gamma irradiation, a sterilization process that eliminates bacterial spores without damaging the honey's beneficial properties. This is a critical step for products intended for open wounds, as it removes the risk of infection from contaminants present in unpasteurized honey. This process ensures the honey is safe and effective for clinical use, particularly for addressing antibiotic-resistant bacteria like MRSA.

MediHoney is available in various formats, such as gels, pastes, and impregnated dressings, all designed to promote a moist, antibacterial environment that aids in healing. The product's low pH and high osmolarity help clean the wound, remove dead tissue, and reduce odor.

Comparison Table: Manuka Honey vs. MediHoney


Feature	Food-Grade Manuka Honey	MediHoney (Medical-Grade)
Primary Purpose	Nutritional consumption, general health support	Topical wound and burn care, infection prevention
Sterility	Unsterile, may contain bacterial spores	Sterilized by gamma irradiation to remove all spores
Form	Liquid, typically sold in jars	Formulated as gels, pastes, and dressings
Key Active	Naturally occurring MGO and UMF compounds	Standardized, medical-grade Leptospermum honey with potent antibacterial properties
Regulatory Status	Food product	FDA-cleared and CE-certified medical device
Safety Warning	Not for use on open wounds; risk of botulism for infants	Specific contraindications for third-degree burns and those allergic to honey

Why Can't You Use Food-Grade Manuka on Wounds?

Using unsterile, food-grade Manuka honey on an open wound carries a serious risk of introducing contaminants, including bacterial spores. While its antibacterial properties are well-documented, the potential presence of harmful bacteria outweighs any perceived benefit in a non-sterile context. For centuries, honey has been used medicinally, but modern science has established strict protocols for wound care. This is why professionals insist on using regulated, sterilized products like MediHoney, which are proven safe and effective for this specific purpose. A key element of professional medical guidance is to rely on sterile products for wound management.

The Takeaway for Consumers: When to Use Each Product

For everyday nutritional use, including sweetening beverages, enjoying on toast, or for general wellness, food-grade Manuka honey is the correct choice. Always ensure you are purchasing a product with a certified UMF rating to confirm its authenticity and potency.

For any application on broken skin, burns, or wounds, you should only ever use a sterile, medical-grade product such as MediHoney. These products have undergone rigorous testing and sterilization processes to ensure safety and effectiveness in a clinical setting. Consulting a healthcare professional for specific wound management is always recommended.

Conclusion

To reiterate, the simple answer to Is Manuka honey the same as Medi honey? is no. While MediHoney's efficacy is derived from its Manuka honey content, it is an entirely different product category, defined by its sterile processing and medical-grade formulation. Manuka honey is a beneficial food, but it is not a substitute for a clinically approved wound care product. The distinction between food-grade and medical-grade honey is not just a branding difference—it is a matter of safety and effectiveness for its intended application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Manuka honey is a type of honey from the Leptospermum scoparium plant. Medical-grade honey, like that used in MediHoney, is sterilized and formulated specifically for medical use on wounds.

No, MediHoney is a sterile medical product formulated for topical use on wounds and should never be ingested.

Regular, food-grade Manuka honey is unsterile and may contain bacterial spores, including Clostridium botulinum, which can cause infection, especially in open wounds.

MediHoney is sterilized using gamma irradiation, a process that removes all bacteria and spores without compromising the honey's antibacterial properties.

MediHoney promotes healing by creating a moist, antibacterial environment, aids in removing dead tissue, reduces wound odor, and is effective against a broad spectrum of bacteria.

While Manuka honey is a prominent type of medical-grade honey, other Leptospermum species from New Zealand and Australia are also used. However, MediHoney is specifically formulated with Leptospermum (Manuka) honey.

The UMF rating is used for consumer Manuka honey to indicate potency. MediHoney, as a regulated medical device, relies on its clinical efficacy and sterilization standards rather than consumer-facing rating systems.