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CANADA — Almost 60 percent of herbal supplements contain unlisted ingredients like wheat and weeds, a new study claims.
Researchers used DNA barcoding technology to identify ingredients in 44 herbal products from 12 companies purchased in the United States and Canada. The majority of products contained cheap alternatives and fillers, according to the study from the University of Guelph.
They said only two companies had products completely free of substitutes and contaminants. One-third of the products didn't have any trace of the advertised herb at all, according to the study.
“It’s common practice in natural products to use fillers such as these, which are mixed with the active ingredients," said lead author Steven Newmaster in a press release. "But a consumer has a right to see all of the plant species used in producing a natural product on the list of ingredients.”
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Herbal remedies are the fastest-growing alternative to medicine in North America, with Americans spending an estimated $5 billion a year on supplements, according to The New York Times.
Contamination and substitution can pose health risks for consumers, Newmaster said. The New York Times reported the same type of DNA testing was used to uncover fraud in the seafood industry.
“We found contamination in several products with plants that have known toxicity, side effects and/or negatively interact with other herbs, supplements and medications,” Newmaster said.
Unlabeled substitutes included a plant with laxative side effects called Senna alexandria and the plant Parthenium hysterophorus, which can cause swelling, numbness and ulcers in the mouth, according to the study.
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Newmaster said fillers included wheat, soybeans and rice, which could be risky for people with allergies.
Supporters of the herbal supplement industry argued some cross-contamination can be accidental, and said DNA testing is not always entirely reliable.
“Over all, I would agree that quality control is an issue in the herbal industry,” Dr. Gafner of the American Botanical Council told The New York Times. “But I think that what’s represented here is overblown. I don’t think it’s as bad as it looks according to this study.”
However, Newmaster said there needs to be better standards to protect consumers and the herbal industry from the unethical actions of some manufacturers.
“There is a need to protect consumers from the economic and health risks associated with herbal product fraud," he said "Currently there are no standards for authentication of herbal products.”