Behind the Label: How Honey For Life Ensures Quality You Can Trust

February 24, 2026

When you choose a jar of honey from Honey For Life, you’re not just choosing a delicious, natural sweetener — you’re choosing a product that’s been rigorously tested and certified for quality, purity and safety.

Honey is a complex natural product, and ensuring its excellence requires more than just good beekeeping. That’s why Honey For Life puts every batch through a series of detailed laboratory tests to meet international food standards and support global export requirements.

What Does Certification Really Mean?

Certifications in honey aren’t just stamps on a jar — they reflect real scientific assessment.

At Honey For Life, testing is carried out by independent laboratories at recognised facilities like ChemCentre in Western Australia and Analytica Laboratories in New Zealand, so that every batch meets strict quality and export standards.

This ensures what you’re consuming is genuine raw honey — not diluted, not overheated, and not compromised.

The Key Tests That Matter

Here’s a snapshot of the main tests Honey For Life uses to evaluate each batch:

Total Activity (TA)
Measures the combined antimicrobial activity in honey — a key indicator of its bioactive strength, particularly in Eucalyptus varieties like Jarrah and Marri.

MGO & DHA
Especially important for Manuka and similar honeys, these tests quantify naturally occurring compounds such as methylglyoxal (MGO) and dihydroxyacetone (DHA), which contribute to Manuka’s unique bioactive profile.

Sugar Analysis
Evaluates fructose, glucose and sucrose levels to ensure they fall within Codex Standard ranges for authenticity.

Moisture Content
Too much water can impact shelf life and increase fermentation risk. Maintaining optimal moisture levels ensures long-term stability.

Understanding MGO & TA Ratings

The numbers on your jar are not marketing terms — they are measurable scientific results.

TA (Total Activity)
Used primarily for Eucalyptus honeys like Jarrah, Marri and Karri.
A TA35+ rating means the honey demonstrates a tested level of antibacterial activity equivalent to a defined phenol standard.

MGO (Methylglyoxal)
Used for Manuka honey.
An MGO 263+, 514+ or 829+ rating reflects the concentration of methylglyoxal naturally present in the honey — the compound responsible for Manuka’s antibacterial strength.

The higher the rating, the higher the measurable bioactivity.

These ratings are independently verified before being printed on any label.

How We Send Our Honey to the Lab

Transparency is part of our commitment to quality.

Here’s how the process works:

Batch Identification
Each honey harvest is separated and assigned a unique batch number for full traceability.
Sample Collection
Representative samples are taken directly from the extracted batch before final packaging.
Sealed & Documented
Samples are securely sealed, labelled and documented with harvest and location details.
Independent Laboratory Submission
Samples are sent to accredited third-party laboratories for testing — including ChemCentre and Analytica Laboratories.
Results & Verification
Only once results are confirmed do we finalise product labelling and release the batch for sale.

This ensures complete independence in testing — and guarantees that what’s printed on the jar reflects verified laboratory data.

Testing for Bioactivity — Not Just Purity

Many honey producers test for basic quality and safety.

Honey For Life goes further by assessing bioactivity — measuring how potent and beneficial the honey is beyond simple sweetness.

This is particularly important for medicinal honeys like Jarrah, Marri and Manuka, where compounds like TA and MGO define their strength and reputation.

We don’t just test to ensure honey is safe.
We test to measure how powerful it is.

Why This Matters for You

In a crowded honey market, independent laboratory testing protects you from misleading claims.

It ensures every spoonful — whether drizzled on porridge, stirred into tea, or enjoyed straight from the jar — is backed by science and third-party verification.

With Honey For Life’s transparent testing practices, you’re choosing honey that is:

• Independently verified
• Scientifically measured
• Traceable to source
• Safe, potent and truly natural

Behind every label is data.
Behind every jar is proof.