24 May 2009

Doubts over UK "manuka" honey

10:42 am on 24 May 2009

A New Zealand honey producer says he doubts a British product being marketed as manuka honey, is the genuine article.

Manuka Health chief executive Kerry Paul says there are reports that honey made in Cornwall is selling for $NZ140 per jar. He says British consumers are being ripped off.

He says beekeepers in Cornwall have imported manuka plants, but there's no way they can reproduce the conditions which create the genuine product.

Even in New Zealand's climate, Mr Paul says about one hectare of dense manuka forest per hive is needed to produce 25kg of honey.