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Herbal Supplement Contamination: Two New Studies

supplement quality

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#1 Michael

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Posted 12 October 2013 - 08:23 PM


DNA barcoding detects contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

Steven G Newmaster, Meghan Grguric, Dhivya Shanmughanandhan, Sathishkumar Ramalingam and Subramanyam Ragupathy

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:222 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-222
Published: 11 October 2013

... We used DNA barcoding to conduct a blind test of the authenticity for (i) 44 herbal products representing 12 companies and 30 different species of herbs, and (ii) 50 leaf samples collected from 42 herbal species. Our laboratory also assembled the first standard reference material (SRM) herbal barcode library from 100 herbal species of known provenance that were used to identify the unknown herbal products and leaf samples.

Results
... Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels. Although we were able to authenticate almost half (48%) of the products, one-third of these also contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label. Product substitution occurred in 30/44 of the products tested and only 2/12 companies had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers. Some of the contaminants we found pose serious health risks to consumers.

Conclusions
Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. ...


Chinese Herbs: Elixir of Health or Pesticides Cocktail?
This report from Greenpeace summarizes the findings of an investigation looking at key
actors in Chinese agriculture: local farmers, traders, and employees at processing plants. It
details the results from scientific testing of 65 Chinese herbal products, including wolfberries,
honeysuckle, Sanqi flowers and chrysanthemum, which were purchased from nine retail chains
in nine different cities across China [NB -- not the North American market -MR] between August 2012 and April 2013.

Greenpeace found:
• The 65 samples tested contained 51 different kinds of pesticide residues.
• 48 out of 65 samples tested positive for pesticide residues.
• Six residues were from pesticides that have been banned in China (phorate, carbofuran,
fipronil, methamidophos, aldicarb and ethoprophos). These were found in 26 samples. The
World Health Organization (WHO) has classified some of these pesticides as extremely or
highly hazardous.
• On the San Qi Flower, thiophanate-methyl residue was 500 times over the European
maximum residue limit (MRL). On the honeysuckle, the same residue was 100 times over the
limit.
• 32 of the 65 samples tested contained traces of 3 or more different pesticides. The Sanqi
flower contained up to 39 different kinds of pesticides, chrysanthemum up to 35, wolfberry up
to 25.

Greenpeace demands the companies producing Chinese herbs:
• Monitor and better control their supply chain,
• Improve product traceability,
• Reduce their pesticide use with concrete plans and timelines.
Greenpeace demands the Chinese authorities:
• Strengthen their use instruction for the usage of pesticides, and their supervision, ensuring
that all extremely or highly hazardous pesticides are effectively eliminated from being used on
Chinese herbs,
• Fully implement the pesticide use reduction policy through a detailed and achievable
timetable and plan under strict data supervision mechanism,
• Increase funding and adopt preferential measures to promote ecological farming.


Of course, a large percentage of herbal supplement raw materials on the N. American market come from China, from sources of varying levels of internal quality control and integrity, and sold on to companies also of varying levels of internal QC and integrity. And nation of origin is generally not stated on consumer products, and not necessarily stated (or honestly stated — or known) on raw materials sold by wholesalers.
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#2 theconomist

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Posted 12 October 2013 - 11:43 PM

DNA barcoding detects contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

Steven G Newmaster, Meghan Grguric, Dhivya Shanmughanandhan, Sathishkumar Ramalingam and Subramanyam Ragupathy

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:222 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-222
Published: 11 October 2013

... We used DNA barcoding to conduct a blind test of the authenticity for (i) 44 herbal products representing 12 companies and 30 different species of herbs, and (ii) 50 leaf samples collected from 42 herbal species. Our laboratory also assembled the first standard reference material (SRM) herbal barcode library from 100 herbal species of known provenance that were used to identify the unknown herbal products and leaf samples.

Results
... Most (59%) of the products tested contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels. Although we were able to authenticate almost half (48%) of the products, one-third of these also contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label. Product substitution occurred in 30/44 of the products tested and only 2/12 companies had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers. Some of the contaminants we found pose serious health risks to consumers.

Conclusions
Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. ...


Chinese Herbs: Elixir of Health or Pesticides Cocktail?
This report from Greenpeace summarizes the findings of an investigation looking at key
actors in Chinese agriculture: local farmers, traders, and employees at processing plants. It
details the results from scientific testing of 65 Chinese herbal products, including wolfberries,
honeysuckle, Sanqi flowers and chrysanthemum, which were purchased from nine retail chains
in nine different cities across China [NB -- not the North American market -MR] between August 2012 and April 2013.

Greenpeace found:
• The 65 samples tested contained 51 different kinds of pesticide residues.
• 48 out of 65 samples tested positive for pesticide residues.
• Six residues were from pesticides that have been banned in China (phorate, carbofuran,
fipronil, methamidophos, aldicarb and ethoprophos). These were found in 26 samples. The
World Health Organization (WHO) has classified some of these pesticides as extremely or
highly hazardous.
• On the San Qi Flower, thiophanate-methyl residue was 500 times over the European
maximum residue limit (MRL). On the honeysuckle, the same residue was 100 times over the
limit.
• 32 of the 65 samples tested contained traces of 3 or more different pesticides. The Sanqi
flower contained up to 39 different kinds of pesticides, chrysanthemum up to 35, wolfberry up
to 25.

Greenpeace demands the companies producing Chinese herbs:
• Monitor and better control their supply chain,
• Improve product traceability,
• Reduce their pesticide use with concrete plans and timelines.
Greenpeace demands the Chinese authorities:
• Strengthen their use instruction for the usage of pesticides, and their supervision, ensuring
that all extremely or highly hazardous pesticides are effectively eliminated from being used on
Chinese herbs,
• Fully implement the pesticide use reduction policy through a detailed and achievable
timetable and plan under strict data supervision mechanism,
• Increase funding and adopt preferential measures to promote ecological farming.


Of course, a large percentage of herbal supplement raw materials on the N. American market come from China, from sources of varying levels of internal quality control and integrity, and sold on to companies also of varying levels of internal QC and integrity. And nation of origin is generally not stated on consumer products, and not necessarily stated (or honestly stated — or known) on raw materials sold by wholesalers.


Any advice as to how we can replace these supplements if they are in our regimens?

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#3 nameless

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Posted 13 October 2013 - 06:21 PM

I wonder how well 'decent' companies test their raw material, and does it compare to DNA barcoding? Examples of what I would consider decent companies would be Jarrow or Thorne, who have their own labs.

Finding source of origin is usually a pain too. Some companies will tell you, but most are really hesitant. Jarrow usually will (or at least used to) mention the source -- if they even reply to your email at all. Swanson ducks the issue completely, unless it's a branded ingredient, which automatically makes me think it comes from China (so I don't purchase the product from them anyway)... they might as well just tell people.

Edited by nameless, 13 October 2013 - 06:21 PM.


#4 Michael

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Posted 15 October 2013 - 07:12 PM

DNA barcoding detects contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

Steven G Newmaster, Meghan Grguric, Dhivya Shanmughanandhan, Sathishkumar Ramalingam and Subramanyam Ragupathy

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:222 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-222
Published: 11 October 2013
Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. ...


Chinese Herbs: Elixir of Health or Pesticides Cocktail?
This report ... details the results from scientific testing of 65 Chinese herbal products ...
Greenpeace found: ... pesticide residues.


Of course, a large percentage of herbal supplement raw materials on the N. American market come from China, from sources of varying levels of internal quality control and integrity, and sold on to companies also of varying levels of internal QC and integrity. And nation of origin is generally not stated on consumer products, and not necessarily stated (or honestly stated — or known) on raw materials sold by wholesalers.


I wonder how well 'decent' companies test their raw material, and does it compare to DNA barcoding?


They certainly aren't doing that yet: the point of the first paper was the introduction of this technique to herbal supplements. The best companies are using the best available testing procedures (usually HPLC) to identify key bioactives in raw material while screening out predictable contaminants. That doesn't necessarily tell you that you have the exact herb you think you're buying, as it can be synthetically spiked in some cases and in others the best method is imprecise for that active, but it covers a lot. I would have confidence in companies that have rigorous testing regimens in place, including third-party testing of raw materials and finished products and chain-of-custody protocols.

Finding source of origin is usually a pain too. Some companies will tell you, but most are really hesitant. Jarrow usually will (or at least used to) mention the source -- if they even reply to your email at all. Swanson ducks the issue completely, unless it's a branded ingredient, which automatically makes me think it comes from China (so I don't purchase the product from them anyway)... they might as well just tell people.


Well, it's not just that: aside from not wanting irrational responses (some people will freak out about something coming from China or wherever even if a company can show you are being extremely scrupulous about QC), they don't want to reveal proprietary info that might give a competitor insight into its competitive advantages. A blanket refusal avoids the problem of attracting competitors' interests to key proprietary info that emerges when openly declares some sources but then clams up on others.

Any advice as to how we can replace these supplements if they are in our regimens?


Not sure what you're asking.

#5 nameless

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Posted 15 October 2013 - 09:03 PM

Finding source of origin is usually a pain too. Some companies will tell you, but most are really hesitant. Jarrow usually will (or at least used to) mention the source -- if they even reply to your email at all. Swanson ducks the issue completely, unless it's a branded ingredient, which automatically makes me think it comes from China (so I don't purchase the product from them anyway)... they might as well just tell people.


Well, it's not just that: aside from not wanting irrational responses (some people will freak out about something coming from China or wherever even if a company can show you are being extremely scrupulous about QC), they don't want to reveal proprietary info that might give a competitor insight into its competitive advantages. A blanket refusal avoids the problem of attracting competitors' interests to key proprietary info that emerges when openly declares some sources but then clams up on others.



Yeah, I understand the properietary issue angle, but I meant Swanson wasn't even really doing the blanket refusal thing -- at least way back when I used to ask them about it. They would declare some sources when asked, yet clam up on others.

Anything from N. America or Europe, they'd tend to answer. Everything else, they'd give a blanket refusal with a disclaimer that products from China were properly tested. So in effect, they were saying where the items were coming from (sorta) but in a weird way... hence why they may be better off just saying upfront when people ask. But perhaps now they just do the blanket refusal for everything... don't know, as I haven't asked in a while. I'm also not even sure what Swanson uses for testing; I assume a proper 3rd party lab.




#6 theconomist

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Posted 15 October 2013 - 09:03 PM

DNA barcoding detects contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

Steven G Newmaster, Meghan Grguric, Dhivya Shanmughanandhan, Sathishkumar Ramalingam and Subramanyam Ragupathy

BMC Medicine 2013, 11:222 doi:10.1186/1741-7015-11-222
Published: 11 October 2013
Most of the herbal products tested were of poor quality, including considerable product substitution, contamination and use of fillers. These activities dilute the effectiveness of otherwise useful remedies, lowering the perceived value of all related products because of a lack of consumer confidence in them. ...


Chinese Herbs: Elixir of Health or Pesticides Cocktail?
This report ... details the results from scientific testing of 65 Chinese herbal products ...
Greenpeace found: ... pesticide residues.


Of course, a large percentage of herbal supplement raw materials on the N. American market come from China, from sources of varying levels of internal quality control and integrity, and sold on to companies also of varying levels of internal QC and integrity. And nation of origin is generally not stated on consumer products, and not necessarily stated (or honestly stated — or known) on raw materials sold by wholesalers.


I wonder how well 'decent' companies test their raw material, and does it compare to DNA barcoding?


They certainly aren't doing that yet: the point of the first paper was the introduction of this technique to herbal supplements. The best companies are using the best available testing procedures (usually HPLC) to identify key bioactives in raw material while screening out predictable contaminants. That doesn't necessarily tell you that you have the exact herb you think you're buying, as it can be synthetically spiked in some cases and in others the best method is imprecise for that active, but it covers a lot. I would have confidence in companies that have rigorous testing regimens in place, including third-party testing of raw materials and finished products and chain-of-custody protocols.

Finding source of origin is usually a pain too. Some companies will tell you, but most are really hesitant. Jarrow usually will (or at least used to) mention the source -- if they even reply to your email at all. Swanson ducks the issue completely, unless it's a branded ingredient, which automatically makes me think it comes from China (so I don't purchase the product from them anyway)... they might as well just tell people.


Well, it's not just that: aside from not wanting irrational responses (some people will freak out about something coming from China or wherever even if a company can show you are being extremely scrupulous about QC), they don't want to reveal proprietary info that might give a competitor insight into its competitive advantages. A blanket refusal avoids the problem of attracting competitors' interests to key proprietary info that emerges when openly declares some sources but then clams up on others.

Any advice as to how we can replace these supplements if they are in our regimens?


Not sure what you're asking.


Basically do you know of any source which has better quality controls or do you think we should just drop herbal supplements?

#7 Blankspace

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Posted 17 October 2013 - 05:27 PM

Basically do you know of any source which has better quality controls or do you think we should just drop herbal supplements?


Mountain Rose Herbs provides a certificate of analysis for their products. You just have email their lab and ask for it.
Here's their page on quality control:
http://www.mountainr...erb/quality.php

Here is a COA for their turmeric powder:
Attached File  Turmeric Root Powder- FT20787.pdf   59.49KB   3 downloads


If you're taking standardized herbs, Gaia Herbs might be an option.
http://www.gaiaherbs...s/trace/2656900

Edited by Blankspace, 17 October 2013 - 06:13 PM.


#8 Bghead8che

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Posted 17 October 2013 - 09:17 PM

Was there a list of brands tested?

#9 blood

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Posted 17 October 2013 - 09:25 PM

Was there a list of brands tested?


I skimmed through the full text, and didn't see a list of brands.

Why would the researchers not 'name & shame'?





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#10 niner

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Posted 18 October 2013 - 12:50 AM

Why would the researchers not 'name & shame'?


Probably a fear of getting sued. Not naming means that the entire class of herbal supplements is tarred with the contamination brush. That may not have been the researcher's goal, but it's a plausible effect. If supplements were required to be tested, and enforcement was good, we'd get better and safer products, but we'd pay more.





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