What MGO Means at Airborne Honey

MGO didn’t replace anything, it joined what was already there.

If you’ve been buying Airborne Honey for years, you may have noticed a new range on supermarket shelves or in our online store.

Airborne still produces the same everyday honeys New Zealanders know and trust, serving up sensational honey since 1910.

Pollen tells us where the bees have been, what flowers they’ve foraged, and how much Manuka is truly present in the honey. It’s proof of origin something that can’t be added later or altered by processing.

That hasn’t changed.

You can still buy our Manuka pollen honey.

So where does MGO fit in?

MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound found in Manuka honey. It’s linked to one of Manuka’s functional properties.

Put simply:

Pollen tells the story of what the honey is.
MGO helps describe what it does.

Over time, MGO has become a number many people recognise when choosing Manuka honey. It offers a simple way to compare measured activity levels.

A higher MGO means higher measured activity.

But choosing MGO isn’t about chasing the biggest number.
It’s about choosing what suits you.

MGO 50+
A lighter activity level. A good everyday option for those wanting Manuka in their pantry year-round.

MGO 88+
Smooth and versatile — ideal for regular use and a popular place to start.

MGO 100+
A step up in measured activity, often chosen when people want something a little stronger.

MGO 300+
Our highest activity level in the range, selected when a more concentrated option is preferred.

The honey itself hasn’t changed.

We still test thoroughly.
We still value origin.
We still handle our honey with care, just as nature intended.

MGO simply adds another layer of understanding. Just more clarity for the modern shopper.