MGO 50+ manuka honey contains at least 50 milligrams of methylglyoxal per kilogram of honey. Methylglyoxal is the compound responsible for manuka honey’s antibacterial properties, and the number on the label tells you how concentrated it is. An MGO 50+ rating is the entry level of the manuka honey scale, making it the mildest and most affordable option available.
What MGO Means on the Label
MGO stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound that forms when another substance found in high concentrations in manuka flower nectar slowly converts over time inside the honey. This conversion is what separates manuka honey from regular honey, which contains only trace amounts of methylglyoxal.
The number after “MGO” represents a lab-tested concentration. MGO 50+ means the honey was tested and confirmed to contain at least 50 mg/kg of methylglyoxal. Higher numbers indicate stronger honey: MGO 250+ has five times the methylglyoxal, and MGO 800+ has sixteen times as much. The scale typically runs from 30+ at the bottom to over 1200+ at the top.
Where MGO 50+ Falls on the Potency Scale
To put 50+ in context, it helps to understand the other major grading system: UMF (Unique Manuka Factor). The UMF system, managed by a New Zealand industry association, requires a minimum MGO of 83 mg/kg just to earn the lowest UMF 5+ rating. That means MGO 50+ honey doesn’t even qualify for UMF certification. The scale continues upward from there: UMF 10+ requires at least 261 mg/kg, UMF 15+ requires 512 mg/kg, and UMF 20+ requires 826 mg/kg.
It’s worth noting that UMF and MGO aren’t directly interchangeable. The UMF grading system measures four different signature compounds in the honey, not just methylglyoxal alone. But the MGO thresholds built into UMF ratings give you a useful benchmark for understanding where 50+ sits: below the floor of any UMF-certified product.
MGO 50+ and Antibacterial Strength
One of the main reasons people seek out manuka honey is its antibacterial activity. At the MGO 50+ level, the honey does contain more methylglyoxal than conventional honey, but the concentration is well below what lab research suggests is needed to inhibit common bacteria on its own. A 2022 study published in PLOS ONE found that the minimum concentration of pure methylglyoxal needed to stop the growth of Staphylococcus aureus (a common cause of skin infections) was 128 mg per liter, with other bacteria requiring even higher concentrations.
That doesn’t mean MGO 50+ honey is useless. Honey contains other antimicrobial factors beyond methylglyoxal, including hydrogen peroxide and low pH. But if you’re specifically looking for manuka honey’s signature antibacterial punch, higher MGO grades deliver meaningfully more of it. The UMF Honey Association suggests that ratings equivalent to 5+ through 10+ suit people looking for a natural sweetener that supports a healthy lifestyle, while 15+ to 20+ are better for those wanting more potent wellness support.
Monofloral vs. Multifloral at This Grade
Manuka honey at the MGO 50+ level is almost always multifloral, meaning the bees collected nectar from manuka flowers along with other plant species. Monofloral manuka honey, where the nectar comes predominantly from manuka plants, typically tests at higher MGO levels because the nectar concentration of the precursor compound is less diluted by other flower sources.
New Zealand’s Ministry for Primary Industries requires all honey labeled as manuka for export to pass a specific set of laboratory tests: four chemical markers from nectar and one DNA marker from manuka pollen. Monofloral manuka must hit higher thresholds on these tests than multifloral. For example, monofloral manuka requires at least 400 mg/kg of one key chemical marker (3-phenyllactic acid), while multifloral manuka needs only 20 mg/kg. Both must contain detectable manuka pollen DNA. An MGO 50+ product would typically meet the multifloral standard.
Practical Uses for MGO 50+
Brands consistently market MGO 50+ as everyday culinary honey. It has the distinctive rich, slightly earthy flavor that manuka is known for, without the higher price tag of therapeutic grades. A jar of MGO 50+ might cost a third or less of what you’d pay for MGO 500+.
Common uses include spreading it on toast, stirring it into tea or smoothies, and using it as a general cooking sweetener where you want that particular manuka taste. Some people also use it in homemade face masks or as a general-purpose honey for minor skin care, though these applications rely more on the general properties of raw honey than on high methylglyoxal content specifically.
If your goal is to use manuka honey for targeted health support, like soothing a sore throat or applying to minor wounds, most guidance points toward MGO 250+ and above as the range where you start to see meaningful differences from regular honey. MGO 50+ is better thought of as a premium table honey that happens to come from manuka plants.
How to Verify What You’re Buying
Manuka honey fraud has been a persistent problem. Some estimates suggest more manuka honey is sold worldwide than New Zealand actually produces. A few things to look for when buying MGO 50+ honey:
- Batch traceability: Reputable brands print a batch number on the jar that you can enter on their website to pull up a certificate of analysis showing the tested MGO level, origin, and production details.
- New Zealand origin: Genuine manuka honey comes from New Zealand or parts of Australia where related Leptospermum species grow. Check for a country of origin statement.
- Independent lab testing: The MGO number should be backed by third-party lab results, not just a brand’s own claim. Brands that participate in the UMF certification system undergo additional auditing, but since MGO 50+ falls below UMF thresholds, you’ll need to rely on the brand’s own transparency and batch verification tools.
At the MGO 50+ price point, the risk of overpaying for mislabeled product is lower than with premium grades, but it’s still worth buying from established brands that offer batch-level verification.