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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsAustralian stingless bee honey inhibited selected bacteria and fungi in laboratory tests, according to a 2025 study. The effect varied by bee species and microorganism; the findings do not show that honey sold as food prevents or treats infections in people or pets.
What the 2025 study tested
Fernandes and colleagues tested honey from three Australian stingless bee species against four microorganisms using broth microdilution, a laboratory method for measuring how much of a substance is needed to inhibit growth. The sample collection included 20 Tetragonula carbonaria, 20 Tetragonula hockingsi and 8 Austroplebeia australis honeys. The organisms were the bacteria Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli, the yeast Cryptococcus neoformans and the dermatophyte fungus Trichophyton interdigitale. (Primary study, published May 21, 2025.)
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The key measure was minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC): the concentration of honey that stopped visible growth in the study’s assay. A lower MIC means less honey was needed to inhibit that organism under those test conditions. These percentages are not cure rates, human or animal doses, or advice about how much honey to eat or apply.
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Average MICs across the tested honeys
| Test organism | Average MIC, % w/w | Relative susceptibility in this comparison |
|---|---|---|
| Trichophyton interdigitale (dermatophyte fungus) | 4%–9% | Most susceptible by average MIC |
| Staphylococcus aureus (bacterium) | 9%–11% | Second most susceptible |
| Escherichia coli (bacterium) | 10%–13% | Third |
| Cryptococcus neoformans (yeast) | 24%–34% | Least susceptible by average MIC |
These ranges are averages reported for the study’s honey samples; they do not predict the response of an infection in a person or animal. Overall, T. carbonaria honey showed the strongest activity in the study comparison, while A. australis honey was weakest. The result is a comparison of research samples, not a ranking of commercial products for medical use.
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What happened after the honey was heated
The researchers heated honey to 80°C for 30 minutes to remove hydrogen-peroxide-based activity, then measured the remaining activity. In T. carbonaria and T. hockingsi samples, some antibacterial activity remained: the reported non-peroxide MICs were 14% and 17% against E. coli, and 17% and 18% against S. aureus, respectively. Activity against the tested fungi diminished after heating.
Some samples produced hydrogen peroxide for more than six days. The study also documented differences in peroxide production, phenolic and antioxidant content, color, density and pH. It identified proteins that may contribute to antimicrobial activity and found activity in phenolic extracts, with flavonoids among the possible contributors. These are potential explanations for laboratory effects, not proof of a single mechanism in a living body.
Stingless bee honey should not be treated as chemically interchangeable with mānuka honey. A 2022 Food Standards Australia New Zealand application states that T. carbonaria honey does not contain methylglyoxal and discusses flavonoids as possible contributors; the application is not, by itself, evidence of current regulatory approval. (Food Standards Australia New Zealand application, dated July 3, 2022.)
One T. carbonaria sample retested after 18 years of storage retained substantial non-peroxide activity. That is a finding about one stored sample, not a general shelf-life guarantee for honey products.
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Does this mean stingless bee honey treats infections?
No. The study measured antimicrobial effects in vitro, meaning in a controlled laboratory assay. It did not test whether the honey prevents or treats infection in people, establish a safe or effective medical dose, or show that a retail jar has the same properties as the research samples. It also did not test whether the honey is safe or effective for treating infections in pets.
The University of Sydney’s account says the honeys had not yet been tested specifically against drug-resistant bacteria. Dr Kenya Fernandes, an Australian Research Council DECRA Fellow at the university, said: “While we have yet to test the honeys against drug-resistant bacteria specifically, the presence of multiple antimicrobial factors significantly reduces the likelihood of resistance developing.” That is the researcher’s interpretation of the presence of multiple factors, not an experimental finding from testing resistant pathogens. (University of Sydney, June 23, 2025.)
Do not use food honey as a substitute for veterinary or medical care for a wound, skin problem, fungal infection or other illness. A laboratory MIC does not tell you what treatment is appropriate for a patient.
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The University of Sydney refers to Australian stingless bee honey as “sugarbag.” Its account describes it as a food source historically used by Indigenous communities in Australia and notes traditional use for itchy skin and sores. These practices should be understood in their cultural context, not taken as clinical proof that honey treats infection; the account does not represent the practices of every Indigenous community.
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