Does Higher-MGO Manuka Honey Have More Sugar or Calories?

While perhaps a tad confusing, a higher MGO number does not automatically mean more sugar or calories. MGO measures the strength of a natural compound called methylglyoxal. Meanwhile, sugar and calorie values come from the honey’s nutritional composition and how much you use.

Yet, higher MGO grades often cost more and are described as higher strength. Thus, it’s easy to assume that these grades are more concentrated in both calories and sugar too. However, the MGO number on every jar represents this compound in milligrams per kilogram of honey. Other nutritional values are separate measurements. For exact values, the Nutrition Facts label can tell you exactly what each serving size provides.

What Does the MGO Number Actually Measure?

MGO measures methylglyoxal concentration, not the amount of sugar, carbohydrates, or calories in a serving. While MGO is measured in milligrams per kilogram, sugar is typically listed in grams per serving. 

For instance, an MGO 600+ honey is certified to contain at least 600 milligrams of MGO per kilogram. An MGO 850+ honey contains at least 850 milligrams per kilogram, and an MGO 1000+ honey contains at least 1,000 milligrams per kilogram. A higher number simply indicates greater MGO strength. It doesn’t mean the serving contains more honey or a larger amount of sugar.

Here’s a simple way to think about it: MGO is a strength grade, and calories and sugar are nutrients found on the Nutrition Facts panel.

Does Higher-MGO Manuka Honey Have More Sugar?

No, the MGO grade doesn’t represent the number of grams of sugar in a serving.

Manuka honey naturally contains sugars, primarily fructose and glucose. In fact, two products with different MGO levels may show similar sugar values when compared using equal serving sizes. 

With that said, minor differences can still exist between individual products or batches, meaning it’s always best not to assume that MGO 1000+ contains more or less sugar than MGO 600+ without checking the labels. We suggest you compare “Total Sugars” on the Nutrition Facts label using the same serving weight for the most accurate answer.

Additionally, the FDA treats honey as a single-ingredient sweetener. No sugar is added to pure honey during processing. Yet, the FDA still counts honey’s natural sugar as “Added Sugar,” because honey is used to sweeten things. This is where labels get a little confusing. Most foods show added sugars two ways, as a gram amount and a percentage. Pure honey is allowed to show only the percentage. This way, the label doesn’t make it look like additional sugar was mixed into your honey. 

Does Higher-MGO Manuka Honey Have More Calories?

Higher MGO does not inherently mean more calories. Calories depend mainly on the amount of honey you consume and its carbohydrate content.

Most of honey’s calories come from carbohydrates, particularly its naturally occurring sugars. MGO itself is not a calorie-rating system. A larger spoonful contains more honey, and therefore, provides more sugar and calories than a smaller spoonful. This same principle applies whether the jar is MGO 600+, 850+, or 1000+.

Here’s another way to think about it: The FDA explains that all calories and nutrients on a Nutrition Facts label relate to the stated serving size. Eating twice the serving provides roughly twice the listed calories and nutrients. To compare products accurately, always use identical serving weights (and be wary of comparing one teaspoon against one tablespoon; serving sizes can vary by product).

Put simply, a higher MGO rating changes the honey’s certified strength category. Meanwhile, eating a larger serving changes the amount of sugar and calories you consume.

What Actually Affects the Sugar and Calorie Amount?

Serving size, product composition, and the specific Nutrition Facts label matter more than the MGO number when comparing sugar and calories. In short, here’s what actually affects the sugar and calorie amount:

• Serving size: More grams of honey means more sugar and calories.

• Serving measurement: A heaping teaspoon and a level teaspoon are not equal amounts.

• Product ingredients: Pure Manuka honey should be assessed differently from blends or products with added ingredients.

• Natural variation: Honey composition may vary slightly by harvest and batch.

• Label presentation: Products may use different serving sizes even when the jars contain similar honey.

• Consumption frequency: Multiple servings increase your total daily sugar and calorie intake.

Jar size is a separate matter entirely. A 500-gram jar holds more total servings than a 250-gram jar, yet the jar’s size doesn’t change the nutritional value of an equal serving.

MGO Strength vs. Sugar and Calories

MGO strength and nutritional content answer different questions and should be evaluated separately:

Use the MGO number to understand strength, and use the Nutrition Facts panel to understand calories and sugar. Neither number should stand in for the other, and products should always be compared using the same number of grams.

How to Compare Two Manuka Honey Labels Correctly

The most reliable comparison uses the same serving weight and checks calories, total carbohydrates, and total sugars side by side. 

Here’s a step-by-step guide to comparing your Manuka honey labels:

1. Check the serving size in grams.

2. Convert the values if the serving sizes are different.

3. Compare calories per equal serving.

4. Compare total carbohydrates.

5. Compare total sugars.

6. Review the ingredient list.

7. Look at the MGO grade separately.

8. Confirm that both products are pure Manuka honey rather than blends.

For example: If one label lists nutrition per 7 grams and another uses 14 grams, divide the 14-gram values by two before comparing them. A “per jar” comparison is rarely useful, since jars may contain different numbers of servings. The FDA recommends beginning with the serving size, because the calories and nutrient amounts shown are based on that quantity.

Why Does Higher-MGO Honey Cost More if It Does Not Have More Calories?

Higher-MGO Manuka honey often costs more because of its certified strength, limited sourcing, testing, and production requirements. It has nothing to do with calories.

Higher MGO grades must meet a higher certified methylglyoxal threshold. Manuka honey comes from the Manuka tea tree and is harvested during a limited flowering period each year. Testing then verifies the stated MGO level, while traceability, sourcing standards, and The Art of Ethical Beekeeping all add to the value of the final jar.

Overall, a higher price reflects strength, rarity, sourcing, and verification, not a higher sugar or calorie count. Nutritional energy and product value are not the same measurement.

How Much Manuka Honey Should You Use?

The amount you consume impacts the number of sugar and calories more directly than the MGO level you select.

Manukora recommends 1 to 3 heaping teaspoons daily, and one heaping teaspoon is approximately 14 grams. We recommend checking your jar’s Nutrition Facts label to calculate the sugar and calories in the amount you actually use. 

While we might be biased, the best way to enjoy Manuka honey is straight from a wooden or stainless steel spoon. Alternatively, you may wish to stir it into a cooled beverage. For hot drinks, let the water cool for 30 to 60 seconds before adding the honey (this helps protect the natural character of the honey!).

If you are keeping track of sugar or calorie intake, it helps to consider your complete daily eating pattern and to follow guidance from a qualified healthcare professional when needed.

The Bottom Line

A higher MGO number does not automatically mean more sugar or calories. MGO measures methylglyoxal strength, while sugar and calorie values belong to the Nutrition Facts panel.

When you compare products, use equal serving sizes, since the amount you consume affects total sugar and calorie intake more directly than MGO strength does. MGO 600+, 850+, and 1000+ can then be selected according to your preferred wellness routine and strength.

Compare Manukora’s MGO 600+, 850+, and 1000+ options, review the Nutrition Facts information on each, and choose a strength that fits naturally into your wellness routine.

FAQs

Does MGO contain sugar?

MGO is not a type of sugar. It stands for methylglyoxal, a naturally occurring compound used to grade the strength of Manuka honey. Sugar content is listed separately on the Nutrition Facts label.

Does MGO 1000+ have more sugar than MGO 600+?

Not necessarily. The MGO number alone can’t tell you how many grams of sugar a product contains. Compare both labels using the same serving size for an accurate result.

Does higher-MGO Manuka honey have more calories?

A higher MGO grade does not inherently mean more calories. Calories are influenced mainly by the quantity you consume and the honey's carbohydrate content.

Is honey considered an added sugar?

For U.S. nutrition labeling, honey contributes added sugars to the diet because it is packaged as a sweetener. Pure single-ingredient honey follows special label-display rules, however, so its “Added Sugars” information may appear differently compared to multi-ingredient foods.

Which MGO level should I choose?

Choose between MGO 600+, 850+, and 1000+ based on your preferred strength, routine, and personal priorities. It’s best not to choose a grade based on an assumption that a higher or lower MGO number contains less sugar.

Sources

Added Sugars on the Nutrition Facts Label | FDA  

Guidance for Industry: Declaration of Added Sugars on Honey, Maple Syrup, Other Single-Ingredient Sugars and Syrups, and Certain Cranberry Products | FDA

How to Understand and Use the Nutrition Facts Label | FDA