Your Cart is Empty
Mānuka honey MGO: 400 wins for most buyers in 2026
Best overall for a first MGO-labelled jar in 2026: Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g. Best for the highest stated MGO strength here: Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 850 MGO, 250g. Best for an organic 400 MGO jar: Wedderspoon Organic Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 500g. This mānuka honey MGO ranking separates the stated strength of each jar from the choice of a practical first jar.
TL;DR
- Wedderspoon 850 MGO ranks highest by stated strength; it is not automatically the best jar for every buyer.
- Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g is the best starting point for comparing MGO-labelled jars.
- Queen Bee MGO 115+, 340g suits buyers who want a lower stated MGO grade.
- KFactor and MGO are different grading systems; do not treat their numbers as equivalent.
Why this matters
MGO refers to methylglyoxal, a compound measured in mānuka honey. An MGO number describes a measured characteristic of the honey, not a health outcome. A higher MGO label answers which jar has the higher stated grade; it does not answer which jar you should buy.
Manuka Honey Direct sells both MGO-labelled jars and Wedderspoon KFactor jars. Keep those ranges separate when comparing labels in 2026: KFactor 16 is not another way of writing 400 MGO or 850 MGO.
What makes the best MGO-labelled mānuka honey?
- MGO strength: Rank only jars with a stated MGO grade. Do not assign one to an ungraded jar.
- Grade evidence: Check whether the specific product gives you testing or traceability information; do not assume one jar's evidence covers another.
- Jar size: A 250g jar and a 500g jar suit different buying habits even when their MGO grade matches.
- Organic status: Choose an organic-labelled jar if that distinction matters to you; organic and MGO describe different things.
- Processing: Read the exact product description for terms such as raw and unpasteurised rather than applying them to every jar in a range.
MGO jars at a glance in 2026
This table ranks only the MGO number printed on each jar: 850 first, the two 400 MGO jars tied, then 115+. Its row order is not a buying recommendation. For a first MGO-labelled jar, the 250g Wedderspoon 400 MGO is the default pick because it gives you the same stated grade as the 500g organic option in a smaller format.
| Jar | Best for | Standout feature | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 850 MGO, 250g | Highest stated MGO grade in this list | 850 MGO label in a 250g jar | Higher grade alone gives no reason to prefer it for everyday use |
| Wedderspoon Organic Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 500g | Organic preference and a larger jar | Organic, raw, unpasteurised and 400 MGO | Larger jar if you want to try mānuka first |
| Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g | First MGO-labelled jar | 400 MGO in a 250g raw, unpasteurised jar | No organic designation in the supplied product name |
| Queen Bee Mānuka Honey MGO 115+, 340g Glass Jar | Lower stated MGO grade | 115+ MGO in a 340g glass jar | Cannot answer a search for 400 MGO or higher |
The two 400 MGO jars tie for second on stated strength. The organic 500g jar appears ahead as a table tie-break, not because it has a stronger stated grade. Choose between them by jar size and organic preference, not table position.
1. Wedderspoon 850 MGO: best for the highest stated grade
The Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 850 MGO, 250g jar leads this strength ranking because 850 MGO is the highest grade stated among these four jars. It gives you a clearly labelled 250g format. The supplied product information does not establish batch-testing details for this specific jar, so check the product and pack information if that evidence is part of your decision.
Wedderspoon 850 MGO pros:
- Highest stated MGO figure in this comparison.
- A 250g format if you do not want a larger jar.
- An MGO label you can compare directly with the other MGO-labelled entries here.
Wedderspoon 850 MGO cons:
- A higher MGO figure does not establish a health benefit.
- The supplied information does not give product-specific processing or testing evidence to compare with the 400 MGO jars.
Best for: You want the highest stated MGO grade among these four jars. Verdict: Buy for that stated grade, not for a presumed health benefit. If product-specific testing evidence matters to you, check it for this jar before buying.
2. Wedderspoon Organic 400 MGO: best for an organic larger jar
Wedderspoon Organic Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 500g combines a stated 400 MGO grade with an organic-labelled, raw and unpasteurised format. Its product description places its sourcing in New Zealand's South Island. Choose it when organic status and a 500g jar matter alongside the MGO number; do not read organic certification as a higher MGO grade.
Wedderspoon Organic 400 MGO pros:
- States its MGO grade clearly.
- Identified as organic, raw and unpasteurised in the supplied product information.
- A 500g option for buyers who already know they want a larger jar.
Wedderspoon Organic 400 MGO cons:
- Has the same stated MGO grade as the smaller Wedderspoon 400 MGO jar.
- A 500g jar is a larger commitment if you are trying mānuka honey for the first time.
Best for: You want 400 MGO, specifically want an organic-labelled honey and prefer 500g. Verdict: Buy for the organic distinction, not for extra MGO strength.
3. Wedderspoon Raw 400 MGO: best first MGO-labelled jar
Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g states the grade and size plainly, and its product name identifies it as unpasteurised. The supplied description identifies it as coming from New Zealand. That makes it a practical first comparison point: you can focus on what 400 MGO means without also deciding whether you need the larger organic jar.
Wedderspoon Raw 400 MGO pros:
- Clear 400 MGO label for a direct grade comparison.
- A 250g jar rather than the organic option's 500g jar.
- Identified as raw and unpasteurised in the supplied product information.
Wedderspoon Raw 400 MGO cons:
- Its supplied product name does not identify it as organic.
- The stated grade is below the 850 MGO jar if highest MGO is your sole goal.
Best for: You want a straightforward MGO-labelled Wedderspoon jar without selecting the highest figure or the larger organic format. Verdict: Buy as the default first jar in this comparison.
A product listing for a separate Wedderspoon 400 MGO triple pack states that the pack's honey is independently tested by a third-party New Zealand government-approved laboratory. Do not transfer that testing claim to this single jar without product-specific evidence. Grade evidence belongs to the product you actually choose.
4. Queen Bee 115+ MGO: best for a lower stated grade
Queen Bee Mānuka Honey MGO 115+, 340g Glass Jar carries a stated 115+ MGO grade and comes in a glass jar. Its product description identifies New Zealand sourcing. It is a distinct choice for someone who wants an MGO-labelled honey but is not looking for either of the higher grades above.
Queen Bee 115+ MGO pros:
- States an MGO grade rather than leaving you to infer one.
- A 340g format between the smaller and larger jars in this comparison.
- Glass-jar format is explicit in the supplied product name.
Queen Bee 115+ MGO cons:
- Its stated grade is lower than 400 MGO and 850 MGO.
- The supplied information does not establish processing or batch-testing details for this specific jar.
Best for: You specifically want a lower stated MGO grade in a glass jar. Verdict: Buy for that combination; skip it if your requirement is 400 MGO or above.
How to read the ranking before choosing
Strength order: 850 MGO first; both 400 MGO jars tied for second; 115+ MGO last. First-jar recommendation: Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g. It is the smaller 400 MGO option, not the strongest one. Choose the organic 500g jar if organic status and a larger size matter more; choose 850 MGO when the highest stated grade is your goal.
MGO and KFactor need separate comparisons. Wedderspoon also sells KFactor 12 and KFactor 16 honey, but neither number can be placed between 115 and 400 on an MGO scale. If you are comparing a KFactor jar with an MGO jar in 2026, read the grading information for each product rather than converting the figures yourself.
Processing claims need the same discipline. Raw, unpasteurised and organic are distinct product descriptions, not synonyms for a particular MGO strength. Check the wording on the jar you intend to choose. For authenticity, look for product-specific grade and traceability evidence instead of treating a high number or familiar brand name as proof by itself.
Compare MGO-labelled jars
Which MGO-labelled mānuka honey should you choose?
Choose Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g if you want one clear starting point. Its stated grade, size and processing description make the decision easier to inspect. Choose the organic 400 MGO, 500g jar if organic status and the larger format are your requirements. Choose 850 MGO only when the highest stated grade in this list is the point of your purchase.
If 115+ MGO and a glass jar meet your requirements, Queen Bee has the clearest fit. None of these choices needs a medical claim to justify it: in 2026, select the label, format and product evidence you actually want.
FAQ
What does MGO mean on mānuka honey in 2026?
MGO refers to methylglyoxal, a compound measured in mānuka honey. The number describes a measured characteristic of the honey, not a promised health effect.
Which jar has the highest MGO grade in this ranking?
Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 850 MGO, 250g has the highest stated grade in this ranking. Check the specific product information if you also need testing or traceability evidence.
Is 850 MGO better than 400 MGO for everyone?
No. 850 MGO is the higher stated grade, but that alone does not make it the better purchase for every shopper. Jar size, organic status and product-specific evidence also matter.
Are KFactor 16 and 400 MGO the same grade?
No. KFactor and MGO are different grading systems, and their numbers are not interchangeable. Compare each jar using the grading information stated for that product.
Is the organic 400 MGO jar stronger than the raw 400 MGO jar?
Both Wedderspoon jars state 400 MGO. The supplied product information distinguishes them by organic status and jar size, not by stated MGO strength.
Does a high MGO number prove a jar is authentic?
No. A high MGO number is a grade claim, not proof on its own that a particular jar is authentic. Check the label and any testing or traceability evidence supplied for that product.
Which MGO jar is a practical first choice?
Wedderspoon Raw Mānuka Honey 400 MGO, 250g is the default first choice in this comparison. It has a stated MGO grade in a smaller jar than the organic 500g option.
One last thing
The two Wedderspoon 400 MGO jars tie on the number this article ranks. Their useful difference is the buying decision the number cannot make for you: whether you want the organic-labelled 500g jar or the raw, unpasteurised 250g jar. Check the specific jar's label and evidence before choosing in 2026.
Related guides
Also in Articles
