If you google methylglyxol you find that it might be a factor in a 
variety of health problems, especially at the concentrations noted.It is 
interesting that subcutaneous application does cause cancer. It is not a 
benign chemical.It is still in the "what does it actually do" and "is it 
a factor as a carcinogen in food" stage. So far, the jury is out.

A bit of prudence should be applied before using it as a cure-all. There 
are toxic honeys such as rhododendron, as most all on this list know.

It would be interesting to find out the answer to why does a plant 
secrete such high concentrations of methylglyxol, when most are fine 
with much lower concentrations.

It does appear at much lower concentrations in a variety of foods, 
including coffee and tea, on which most cancer studies concentrate.

Bill Truesdell
Bath, Maine

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