Tuesday, September 4, 2012
Monday, August 6, 2012
Honeymark Sues Wedderspoon for False Advertising
This dispute between Manuka
honey companies involves federal claims for false or misleading advertising on
Wedderspoon’s part. Honeymark alleges that Wedderspoon makes false and
misleading claims with respect to the potency levels and organic status of
their Manuka honey.
Consumers believe the higher
the potency level the greater the healing properties of the Manuka honey.
The level of activity is determined through specific specialized laboratory
testing. Honeymark came to suspect that Wedderspoon’s claims regarding
the activity levels of its Manuka honey were false. They came to this
conclusion by sending samples of Wedderspoon’s Manuka Honey to be tested by an
independent certified laboratory for its activity rating. The results of
those laboratory tests indicated that Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey was repeatedly
and substantially below the activity ratings it claimed on the product labels,
websites, advertisements and promotional materials.
Manuka honey is produced in New
Zealand from bees that gather pollen solely from the Manuka bush.
Although all honey appears to contain some level bioactivity, consumers
consider Manuka honey to be special due to its additional and measurable
non-peroxide activity. Research has confirmed that Manuka honey contains
a naturally present, stable and unique non-peroxide activity which has a
variety of benefits. As a result, consumers are willing to pay a
substantially higher price for Manuka honey. Although this non-peroxide
activity is unique to Manuka honey, not all Manuka honey contains sufficient
levels of activity for therapeutic use.
The amount of floral nectar
extracted from Manuka flowers used by the bees that produce this unique type of
honey affects the level of non-peroxide activity of each batch of Manuka honey.
The level of non-peroxide activity in Manuka honey is identified by a
rating system that measures its potency. For example, Manuka honey which,
as the result of lab testing, is found to have a rating of 16.3 using this
method is labeled as 16+. Only Manuka honey that has a potency rating of
10 or greater is considered active. This rating system was designed, in part, to
assist consumers in their purchasing decisions. Consumers rely on these
ratings to distinguish the quality of Manuka honey and place a higher value on
Manuka honey with higher potency levels. Consumers are willing to pay
significantly more money for active Manuka honey compared to inactive Manuka
honey.
When Honeymark had an
independent laboratory in New Zealand test the Wedderspoon Manuka honey, the
results revealed that Wedderspoon’s 12+ Manuka honey had a Non-Peroxide
Activity of less than 4.1, and the claimed 16+ Manuka honey had a Non-Peroxide
Activity of 4.6. Activity ratings of 4.1 and 4.6 are substantially below
the claimed activity ratings of 12+ and 16+, respectively, that appear on
Wedderspoon’s labels and advertising. They are also substantially below
the minimum activity rating of 10+ required for Manuka honey to be identified
as active.
Honeymark also feels that
Wedderspoon’s claim that their honey being organic is questionable, as it is
impossible to prevent bees from traveling to a neighboring areas to collect
pollen and nectar which may not be certified organic compliant.
Wedderspoon’s organic claim is not certified by the USDA.
Wedderspoon blatantly lying
about the potency level of their honey violates federal statutes which protect
consumers against false advertising. Wedderspoon’s statements regarding
the activity rating of its Manuka honey are literally false and misleading.
The false and misleading statements on Wedderspoon’s website and product
labeling have actually deceived consumers and the retail stores that sell their
products. Honeymark feels that this deception has minimized and
depreciated the value of their products which are accurately labeled as well as
the value of Manuka honey in general.
Honeymark’s attorneys are asking
the courts for preliminary and permanent
injunctive relief enjoining Wedderspoon from making the false, misleading and
deceptive statements on its website and products labels. They are
also requesting that Wedderspoon be require to
retract and recall all products whose labels contain false, misleading or
deceptive statements and award Honeymark compensatory damages and monetary
relief as a result of their labeling deception.
Friday, June 15, 2012
Ask Away...: Honeymark Anti Itch Cream Review
Ask Away...: Honeymark Anti Itch Cream Review: Honeymark is a brand of skincare products that are paraben free, all natural, free of mineral oils and artificial pres...
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Know the Facts before Buying Manuka Honey
Unscrupulous
suppliers are jeopardizing the integrity of the Manuka honey industry by
selling poor-quality products that are not true to label.
The
pharmaceutical industry is regulated very heavily by the Food and Drug
Administration. Every pharmaceutical
product undergoes extreme scrutiny and must endure rigorous new drug
application procedures before it is approved.
However, nutritional supplements and other natural products are not
regulated in the same manner as pharmaceutical products. Therefore, a lot can fall through the cracks.
Consumers
have been getting ripped off by natural products manufacturers for years. Products containing low potencies with
ingredients that are not bioactive are sold for a low price in health food
stores across the country. Thanks to the
internet, consumers now have a way of researching products and reading product
reviews by actual users rather than just being at the mercy of marketing ploys
on labels.
In the
past year, Manuka honey has
become very popular in the U.S. market as a result of its many uses and
impressive qualities. Due to the short
supply of this unique type of honey, the price has increased
substantially. This profit potential has
prompted industrial pirates to get a piece of the action. Like the misfortune of other natural products
that have suffered from poor quality, low price imitations corrupting the
reputation of their better counterparts, Manuka honey is now at risk of the
same character assassination.
Wedderspoon
is one of the brands that is currently being criticized for misrepresenting the
potency of their Manuka honey. It has
been discovered that Wedderspoon Manuka honey that is labeled as active is, in
fact, inactive. Independent laboratory
reports revealed a potency level of 4+ on jars of their honey that were labeled
as 12+ or 16+. Only Manuka honey with a
potency level of 10 or higher is considered active.
Wedderspoon
also claims their Manuka honey is organic but this classification is also in
question. There is no USDA seal anywhere
on the label and the manner in which honey is harvested makes its organic
status difficult to establish. For
example, it is easy to certify produce or livestock as organic because farmers
can control whether or not they use pesticides, chemicals or antibiotics to
grow them. However, bee farmers cannot
control where the bees gather nectar from.
Honeybees have been known to fly up to two miles from the hive in order
to collect nectar. If the honeybees use
the nectar from flowers of a neighboring farm that are not certified organic, it
won’t be possible to certify the honey they produce.
Consumers
are encouraged to do their due diligence and find out which brands are reputable
before making a purchase. When it comes
to using products for health purposes, quality is imperative. The placebo effect only goes so far when it
comes to certain conditions. Don’t perpetuate
the sale of inadequate products that ride on the coattails of better quality
products. Your health depends on it.
Monday, May 21, 2012
Frugal Mommie of 2: Honeymark Products with Manuka Honey Review
Frugal Mommie of 2: Honeymark Products with Manuka Honey Review: When I found out about Honeymark products I couldn't believe that this was something I had no idea about. I received a box of items in...
Friday, May 11, 2012
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Welcome to CRichman Freebies: Honeymark Review
Welcome to CRichman Freebies: Honeymark Review: Honeymark products are made with all natural ingredients so you can be sure they are great products. Photo property of Honeymark, used fo...
Monday, May 7, 2012
Sunday, May 6, 2012
Saturday, May 5, 2012
Friday, May 4, 2012
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
Manuka Beeswax Candles by Honeymark
Paraffin candles are the most commonly burned candles but
they are also the most dangerous to our health.
Paraffin is an inexpensive sludge waste product that is derived from
petroleum. It is bleached then
texturized with carcinogenic substances.
Once
burned, paraffin candles release toxins into the air that are known as carcinogens.
These toxins are then inhaled by anyone in the same room and linger in the
areas that they are burned in. In addition, their soot leaves a residue on
walls, discoloring fabrics and ceilings. In fact, soot from paraffin
candles contain many of the same toxins found in diesel fuel. What most people don’t know is that paraffin
candles are as dangerous to the lungs as second-hand cigarette smoke.
Beeswax candles, on the other hand, are
good for the air and give off a natural, honey fragrance while providing a
longer, cleaner burn than candles made with other types of wax. Beeswax candles may be more expensive than
other types of candles, but they last twice as long as soy candles and three
times longer than paraffin candles. When beeswax candles burn, they clean the air like a natural
air purifier. This is because beeswax candles give off negative ions that help
concentration and clean the air. They are also non-allergenic and can
help soothe the symptoms of hay fever, asthma and environmental allergies.
Air contains billions of
electrically charged particles called ions, which act upon our capacity to
absorb and utilize oxygen. The ions in
the air can affect our mood, energy and health. Negative ions actually feel
good. Too many positive ions make us feel bad and contain pollution and
allergens. Negative ions remove the pollution and allergens from positive ions,
allowing them to drop harmlessly to the ground. This process cleans the air of dust, odors,
toxins, pollen, mold, dust mites feces and viruses. This is especially beneficial
for people who have allergies and other environmental sensitivities.
Individuals
with allergies, sinus problems and asthma have reported a significant
improvement in their symptoms, breathing better and sleeping better after
burning beeswax candles in their bedroom for 3-4 hours before bedtime. Benefits
of beeswax candles are as follows:
- 100% All-Natural
- Environmentally Friendly
- No Soot
- Non-Toxic
- Non-Carcinogenic
- Anti-Allergenic
- Relieves Stress
- Emits air-purifying, negative ions
- Long lasting burn
- Brighter Flame
- Virtually dripless
Honeymark’s
Manuka Beeswax
Candles
are made with 100% pure beeswax extracted from the same hives that produce
Manuka honey. For more information or to
purchase Manuka Beeswax Candles, call 1-866-427-7329 or visit www.HoneymarkProducts.com.
Monday, April 30, 2012
Christina's Voice: Review- Honeymark mudmask and antiseptic spray
Christina's Voice: Review- Honeymark mudmask and antiseptic spray: Honeymark is an importer of Manuka honey and a distributor of natural Manuka honey products. When Honeymark was founded, we believed...
Friday, April 20, 2012
Wednesday, April 18, 2012
Hardcore Makeup Junkie: Honeymark Product Review & Floral OOTD
Hardcore Makeup Junkie: Honeymark Product Review & Floral OOTD: Hello Makeup Junkies!!! Today, I want to share with you a brand that I have fallen in love with. Since there are an endless amount of pro...
Sunday, March 25, 2012
A Comparison between Honeymark and Wedderspoon Manuka Honey
With the lack of regulatory oversight and the uncertainty of various rating systems, consumers want to know the truth about the quality and potency of the Manuka honey they are buying and using as a natural healing agent.
When it comes to promoting good health, the price of natural products is usually not an issue. However, the variation of pricing for different brands of Manuka honey has consumers wondering what the difference is. Why are some Manuka honeys more expensive than others? Because of its incomparable healing potential and its lack of abundance, Manuka honey has become an expensive commodity over the past few years. Promulgated by celebrity doctors such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola, it has become an extremely popular natural alternative to traditional forms of medicine.
At this point, the global demand for Manuka honey far exceeds the supply. When this kind of supply and demand situation occurs, not only does the cost of the commodity increase, but a black market can also develop. The National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand has recently announced that there is more Manuka honey being sold worldwide than there is being harvested. This suggests that some unscrupulous suppliers are either blending Manuka honey with less expensive honeys or mislabeling ordinary honey as Manuka honey.
Another way some suppliers of Manuka honey are increasing their profitability is by lying about the phytochemical and antibacterial potency of their honey. For example, the non-peroxide activity of Manuka honey is generally indicated on the label by a number. Scientific research suggests that Manuka honey must have a non-peroxide activity level of 10 or higher to be considered bioactive and suitable for therapeutic use. A Non-peroxide level less than 10 is considered to be inactive and does not have the potency required to yield medicinal efficacy. The higher the non-peroxide activity, the higher the antibacterial potency and also the higher the price.
Recent laboratory analyses show that Wedderspoon Manuka honey has a lower potency level than is advertised on the label. An independent lab report performed on a jar of Wedderspoon Manuka Honey labeled as Active 12+ revealed that it had a non-peroxide activity of less than 4.1 and a jar of Wedderspoon Manuka honey labeled as Active 16+ was really 4.6. Not only do these reports show that the potency level of Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey did not match the number listed on the label, it also confirms that Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey is inactive. The same type of laboratory analysis shows Honeymark brand Manuka honey labeled as Active 10+ had a non-peroxide activity of 10.1 and another jar of Honeymark Manuka honey labeled as Active 16+ had a non-peroxide activity of 16.
Some people think that only UMF rated Manuka honey contains bioactive properties. This is untrue. Certain acronyms such as UMF, MGO, etc. are just registered trademarks owned by private companies that have a vested interest in their trademark. Unfortunately, the New Zealand government does not regulate the Manuka honey industry and neither does the U.S. FDA. The only way to ensure a particular batch of Manuka honey has a non-peroxide activity of 10 or higher is to perform a laboratory analysis to measure these phytochemical levels. “If a customer were to ask Wedderspoon to provide the lab report of their Manuka honey, they most likely would refuse,” says Frank W. Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. “We would be willing to send our third-party lab reports that show the potency levels of each batch of Manuka honey that we import from New Zealand.”
Buonanotte says that customers have called his office stating that they had tried using Wedderspoon Manuka honey for certain health conditions but experienced no results. He attributes the low potency level of their product for the lack of effectiveness. Buonanotte also states that Honeymark offers a money back guarantee on all products which he feels is the best policy to ensure product efficacy. We were not able to find a money back guarantee on Wedderspoon’s website.
When it comes to promoting good health, the price of natural products is usually not an issue. However, the variation of pricing for different brands of Manuka honey has consumers wondering what the difference is. Why are some Manuka honeys more expensive than others? Because of its incomparable healing potential and its lack of abundance, Manuka honey has become an expensive commodity over the past few years. Promulgated by celebrity doctors such as Dr. Oz and Dr. Mercola, it has become an extremely popular natural alternative to traditional forms of medicine.
At this point, the global demand for Manuka honey far exceeds the supply. When this kind of supply and demand situation occurs, not only does the cost of the commodity increase, but a black market can also develop. The National Beekeepers Association of New Zealand has recently announced that there is more Manuka honey being sold worldwide than there is being harvested. This suggests that some unscrupulous suppliers are either blending Manuka honey with less expensive honeys or mislabeling ordinary honey as Manuka honey.
Another way some suppliers of Manuka honey are increasing their profitability is by lying about the phytochemical and antibacterial potency of their honey. For example, the non-peroxide activity of Manuka honey is generally indicated on the label by a number. Scientific research suggests that Manuka honey must have a non-peroxide activity level of 10 or higher to be considered bioactive and suitable for therapeutic use. A Non-peroxide level less than 10 is considered to be inactive and does not have the potency required to yield medicinal efficacy. The higher the non-peroxide activity, the higher the antibacterial potency and also the higher the price.
Recent laboratory analyses show that Wedderspoon Manuka honey has a lower potency level than is advertised on the label. An independent lab report performed on a jar of Wedderspoon Manuka Honey labeled as Active 12+ revealed that it had a non-peroxide activity of less than 4.1 and a jar of Wedderspoon Manuka honey labeled as Active 16+ was really 4.6. Not only do these reports show that the potency level of Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey did not match the number listed on the label, it also confirms that Wedderspoon’s Manuka honey is inactive. The same type of laboratory analysis shows Honeymark brand Manuka honey labeled as Active 10+ had a non-peroxide activity of 10.1 and another jar of Honeymark Manuka honey labeled as Active 16+ had a non-peroxide activity of 16.
Some people think that only UMF rated Manuka honey contains bioactive properties. This is untrue. Certain acronyms such as UMF, MGO, etc. are just registered trademarks owned by private companies that have a vested interest in their trademark. Unfortunately, the New Zealand government does not regulate the Manuka honey industry and neither does the U.S. FDA. The only way to ensure a particular batch of Manuka honey has a non-peroxide activity of 10 or higher is to perform a laboratory analysis to measure these phytochemical levels. “If a customer were to ask Wedderspoon to provide the lab report of their Manuka honey, they most likely would refuse,” says Frank W. Buonanotte, CEO of Honeymark International. “We would be willing to send our third-party lab reports that show the potency levels of each batch of Manuka honey that we import from New Zealand.”
Buonanotte says that customers have called his office stating that they had tried using Wedderspoon Manuka honey for certain health conditions but experienced no results. He attributes the low potency level of their product for the lack of effectiveness. Buonanotte also states that Honeymark offers a money back guarantee on all products which he feels is the best policy to ensure product efficacy. We were not able to find a money back guarantee on Wedderspoon’s website.
Wednesday, January 11, 2012
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