Taste of honey no ulcer cure

The scientist who first claimed that manuka honey would cure stomach ulcers now says it does not work.

Hamilton pharmacist Niaz Al-Somai said he had watched in dismay as the price of manuka honey skyrocketed from $1.50 a kilogram to $45 after internet sites claimed that it was a cure for stomach ulcers.

"It is not a miracle. We kept it quiet because I wanted New Zealand to get some publicity, some money," he said. "We need the public to know these websites are misleading. There is no clinical evidence. It is not a cure for stomach ulcers."

In 1992, Dr Al-Somai discovered that manuka honey killed the bacteria that caused ulcers - but only in the lab. Trials with patients failed to have any effect and research was abandoned.

New Zealand, British and American websites continue to claim a cure.

The site for Summer Glow Apiaries, of Te Kowhai, says: "Research has shown ... manuka honey [is] very effective for stomach ulcers."

Summer Glow owner Margaret Bennett said she had testimonials from people whose ulcers had been cured by the honey, and that the claims on her site had been checked by Peter Molan, associate professor of biochemistry and director of Waikato University's Honey Research Unit.

Dr Molan said yesterday that he had not checked the site. NZPA

"I haven't been asked to check the website and I haven't got time anyway," he said.

"When they start making these claims it comes into the same category as thousands of other dubious things that are being sold, for which there's no evidence.

"This is the main reason I've been so meticulous about not endorsing anything."

Manuka honey with a high level of UMF had proven useful for wounds, but not stomach ulcers, Dr Molan said.

Such exaggerated claims were misleading and using Dr Molan's name "brings my credibility very much into question."

The Honey Research Unit had received no-strings attached donations of $340,000 during the last six years from the New Zealand and overseas honey industries, a food supplements company and a cosmetics company, he said.

Commerce Commission communications adviser Jackie Maitland said promotional claims could breach the Fair Trading Act if they were deceptive.