A recent survey of UMF™ branded mānuka honey in China and Singapore by the Unique Mānuka Factor Honey Association (UMFHA) returned what leading mānuka honey exporter Comvita’s acting-CEO Brett Hewlett described as “an alarming number of non-compliance to agreed honey standards”. What has been UMFHA’s reaction, and can they control continued breaches of their standards?
In-market audits of honey carrying the UMF™ brand are frequently carried out by the Association which owns, and thus is tasked with protecting, the quality-mark for the benefit of their 184 certified honey brands. With UMFHA stating their members provide almost 70% of packed mānuka honey exported from New Zealand, it’s an important role.
The results from an audit earlier in 2024 prove the importance of the continued surveillance, with almost one-in-five UMF™ products collected in market and returned to New Zealand (under an approved regime allowing the movement of the honey samples to this country for testing) failing their quality standards.
In China 38 products from 10 brands were purchased and six did not meet label claims. In Singapore 30 products from 20 brands were chosen, with seven not meeting the label claim. This resulted in two UMF™ licences being terminated and non-compliant honey ordered to be withdrawn from sale.
There are four “quality factors” that make up the UMF™ rating system and thus seek to provide assurance to consumers. “Potency” is measured through methylglyoxal content and converted to the UMF rating system, and thus products must have, at minimum, the level of Unique Mānuka Factor claimed. The “shelf-life” of UMF honey is ensured by a dihydroxyacetone (DHA) of at least 70mg/kg, while “authenticity” is proven by adequate levels of leptosperin in the honey, and “freshness” is measured by hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) levels.
While UMFHA has not detailed the specifics of what caused each of the failures of their standards in the September survey, they are focusing on heat exposure as the contributing factor.
“Because the UMF Licence requires each batch to have a Release Certificate confirming product compliance, we were able to verify that in all cases the product was processed and released to market meeting label claims,” UMFHA chief executive Tony Wright says.
“We were therefore able to identify heat exposure during shipping or storage, most likely the latter, as the root cause of the problem. This was evidenced by the HMF levels and our ability to model predicted shelf life under different conditions.”
With mānuka honey sales having slowed globally, perhaps it is unsurprising honey has been put at greater risk of heat exposure as storage times extend. Whatever the cause of the problem, Wright believes with greater education their members can overcome the challenge of avoiding heat-damage to their honey.
“We provided this feedback to our members, advising them to talk to their supply chain partners about corrective and preventive measures that will ensure product quality is maintained. Many of our members have this well controlled already, and we see the evidence of this in the audit test data that comes through,” Wright says.
(Editor’s note: Japan-based honey importation consultant and regular Apiarist’s Advocate contributor Bruce Roscoe further details management of heat exposure in Learn from Chocolate, So Honey Doesn't Have to Take the Heat, page 14).
Non-conforming UMF™ product was withdrawn from sale once offenders were notified of the breach of standards, according to Wright.
“In two cases we were not satisfied with the response or the capability of the licence holder to uphold our standards and maintain an effective quality management system, and those licences were terminated.
“Pleasingly, where product withdrawal was required the affected licence holders were able to confirm small inventory holdings which made the task simple and efficient. Other than the two exceptions noted, we saw an efficient and professional response,” the chief executive says.
However, he was not able to confirm “withdrawn” product had been destroyed. If it has not been, and with it unable to be legally returned to New Zealand, there is a risk the honey could still make it to consumers through another channel.
Furthermore, as a large stockpile of mānuka honey sits in storage around New Zealand, meeting UMF™ quality standards will likely be an increasing challenge for the aged honey.
Off the back of those realities, and the latest nearly-one-in-five breaches of UMF standards in China and Singapore, it is not surprising that UMF has “significantly” raised their budget for surveillance activities.
“They are a valuable means of ensuring the process works, maintaining a credible standard whilst always looking for the continuous improvement opportunities, such as better tools and guidance for the industry,” Wright says.
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