Manuka honey's reputation hit by Queen's grocer's move - industry

The reputation of manuka honey has taken a hit after the Queen's official grocer pulled it from its shelves, says the local industry.

Fortnum-and-Mason removed the New Zealand-made product, after testing showed it had lower-than-expected levels of a key ingredient.

John Rawcliffe, from the Unique Manuka Factor Honey Association, said he did not know who supplied the honey to the upmarket grocer.

But he said there was solid research behind grading manuka honey and producers needed to take responsibility for their products.

"It's very robust science, it's internationally validated, it's got a massive amount of peer review. So now that all that is in place, what has happened is probably an example of people not taking the due care required to deliver the good."