Top Secret Writers – by Sally Painter
Have you ever wondered why some people swear by herbs and have outstanding results, but you simply didn’t realize any or very little benefit when you tried those herbs? It could be that you weren’t actually taking herbs but something quite different. If there is a conspiracy, it’s designed to scam the consumer.
A 2013 Canadian study conducted by the Biodiversity Institute of Ontario uncovered the scamming practices of some herbal supplement manufacturers. These companies mixed herbs with various fillers that diminished the traditional medicinal benefits of the herbs (1).
The Canadian team conducted a blind test using DNA barcoding to authenticate 44 herbal products from 12 companies. The products were from 50 leaf samples taken from 42 herb species.
As part of the study, the team required a reference for the herbal barcoding and had to create the “first standard reference material (SRM) herbal barcode library from 100 herbal species of known provenance.” These were needed to help the researchers “identify the unknown herbal products and leaf samples.”
The scientists were able to authenticate 48% of the products, but 1/3 “contained contaminants and or fillers not listed on the label”. The team further discovered that out of 44 products tested 30 contained substitutes for the product.
In addition, only 2 out of the 12 companies tested, “had products without any substitution, contamination or fillers”. 59% of the products that the team tested, “contained DNA barcodes from plant species not listed on the labels.” Perhaps one of the most disturbing finds was that, “Some of the contaminants we found pose serious health risks to consumers.”
Critic says study flawed but FDA used DNA bar-code testing
An October 2013 NY Times article quoted chief science officer at the American Botanical Council Stefan Gafner saying he believed that the study was flawed. Dr. Gafner blamed the “bar-coding technology” as giving inaccurate readings since the technology “could not always identify herbs that have been purified and highly processed.”
Dr. Gafner told the Times that he agreed stricter quality control was needed in the herbal industry, but that the study had blown the problems out of proportion (2).
According to the Times, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses bar-coding technology to test products. The FDA has issued warnings to companies based on bar-coding findings. In fact, the FDA prosecuted seafood sellers for “misbranded” products (3).
It’s important to note that the Times reported the DNA technique has been used in studies of the herbal tea industry. Those findings demonstrated a “significant percentage contain herbs and ingredients that are not listed on their labels”.
The testing system for herbal companies is an honor system with very little regulatory oversight. This leaves a door open for abuse and deceptive practices. In fact, the FDA relies heavily on these companies to test their own products as being safe for consumer use. The Times reported that the herbal supplements are basically considered to be safe until they are proved unsafe.
New York Attorney General issues cease and desist to four major retailers
The Washington Post states that the 2013 NY Times article prompted the NY Attorney General to investigate (4). On February 3, 2015, the NY government website posted a press release stating Attorney General AG Schneiderman sent cease and desist letters to four major retailers – GNC, Target, Walmart and Walgreens in the sales of specific herbal supplements.
These particular products failed DNA testing for the plant materials listed on those products. The NY Attorney General’s office reported that the majority of the products tested failed the DNA testing (5).
According to the State’s February press release, the stores were cited “for allegedly selling store brand herbal supplement products in New York that either could not be verified to contain the labeled substance, or which were found to contain ingredients not listed on the labels.”
Some of the herbal products cited were Echinacea, Ginseng, St. John’s Wort, and others. Each company must provide detailed information to Attorney General Schneiderman about the “production, processing and testing of herbal supplements sold at their stores, as well as set forth a thorough explanation of quality control measures in place.”
Walmart poorest DNA product match
In the February press release, the NY Attorney General’s office stated, that so far the DNA testing revealed that only 21% of the test results could verify DNA from the plants listed with “79% coming up empty for DNA related to the labeled content or verifying contamination with other plant material.”
Walmart had the “poorest showing for DNA matching products listed on the label.” Walmart testing revealed only 4% of the company’s products tested had DNA from the plants listed on the product labels.
Listed as contaminants were many foodstuffs, such as asparagus, alfalfa, legume, pea, wild carrot, rice and wheat. Dracaena listed as a houseplant was found in several testings as was spruce and cassava (tropical tree root).
A majority of the identified contaminants weren’t listed on the label, which poses a health risk to those individuals suffering from allergies to many of these ingredients.
For decades, many legislators have called for more stringent control over the Supplement Market, (6) especially the herbal market. In light of the NY Attorney General’s investigation, the flood gates that have blocked new laws to govern herbal supplements may soon be lifted.
References & Image Credits:
(1) BioMed Central
(2) NY Times
(3) FDA
(4) Washington Post
(5) NY.gov
(6) TSW: Is FDA Vitamin D Warning Valid or Part of the War Against Supplements
(7) listentothemountains via Compfight cc
(8) Hanoi Mark via Compfight cc
(9) Ano Lobb. @healthyrx via Compfight cc
Originally published on TopSecretWriters.com
http://www.topsecretwriters.com/2015/02/herbal-supplemental-conspiracy/
How about someone posting the brands of supplements that were using fake ingredients. I have questions about some of the supplements that I take that are not giving me the desired results. At this point due to the rampant cheating by crappy corporations, I will stop taking everything that doesn’t work, that I was hoping would.
Hey FarmerDave. i have had the same results down through the years. It’s an uphill battle trying to find Quality product. What are you trying to remedy?
Arthritis is my biggest concern. Near crippling osteoarthritis with a side of rheumatoid. I take boron for the rheumatoid and it works wonders, but no luck on the osteo.
I have osteo. The only thing that really helps me is glucosamine sulfate, msm, and condroiten. I make sure the dosage is 1000mg glucosamine sulfate a day. It must be the sulfate. I purchase it in the above combination from vitaminbaron.com. They are honest. The product is mfgd by NOW. Now has very good quality ingredience. If you decide to try this, take 1000mg. a day for at least 3 months, and if it doesn’t help, discontinue it. It has worked wonders for me. Maybe it will help you.
by the way, where do you get your boron. brand etc.
Swanson Vitamins. I take 6 caps a day 3mg each for a total of 18mg. Limit is 20mg. Got all this info off the internet a long time ago. Just google boron and arthritis. Another choice is to take 20 mule team borax. You would have to research the dosage on it, as it is different than straight boron, but I hear it does the same thing. I will switch to it when I have exhausted my supply of boron. I tried the glosimine sulfate for 2 years, 2000mg a day. I just recently stopped as it has done nothing.
Hey Farmer. sorry to hear that. was the glucosamine sulfate a quality one? i tried several different ones before i found one that worked.
Exclusively Costco. What one worked for you? You may save me yet.
here is what i use, and where i buy it. Am taking it now for osteo in hip. http://www.vitaminbaron.com/glucosamine-msm-chondroitin-180-caps/
found this on Borax. of course make sure it is not scented. ha.
How to take Borax internally
Because of the hostility of the pharmaceutical industry, there is a scarcity of research on the effects of boron and how it affects metabolism. One paper concluded that humans need a minimum of 0.5 – 1.0 mg of boron per day to function properly. (12) An ongoing maintenance dose of 3 to 6 mg may be used for general good health and the prevention of ailments, especially if you live in an area where the soil is boron-deficient.
To get a dose of 7 mg of boron per day, dissolve one level teaspoon of borax in one quart/litre of water to make a concentrated solution. Take a teaspoonful of this concentrate twice daily with meals.
Take 3 to 7 mg of boron per day for optimal health, if you have no specific problems.
For arthritis, osteoporosis, muscle cramps, joint pain or stiffness, or low hormone production take 10 mg or more per day for several months or longer until your ailment has sufficiently improved.
For fungal infections including candida, mycoplasmas, removing fluoride from the body. Take 100 ml of the concentrated solution per day. Mix it with other drinks or food, and space it out over the whole day. This will provide a dose of about 70 mg of boron per day. Always start with a low dose and gradually increase it. Take regular breaks from the full dose, either taking the full dose 4 or 5 days per week as long as required, or going back down to the maintenance dose for one week each month.
When you consume borax it seems to work synergistically with magnesium, so keep your magnesium intake up whilst taking borax. See Magnesium.
I
info on borax.
http://educate-yourself.org/cn/boraxconspiracy03jul12.shtml
Thanks for all 3 reply’s Paul. I’ll try the new brand and let you know. thanks for the info on borax also.
I found a source that shows brands that passed testing (you’ll have to check out their various links):
https://www.consumerlab.com
https://www.consumerlab.com/news/
http://inetnewsreporter.com/herbal-supplements-dont-pass-the-test/
Thanks Angel 🙂
“This was not a problem confined to a single brand or a single chain of retailers. Investigators looked into the store brand supplements sold by Walmart, Target, Walgreens and GNC. All of them seem to have put their names to adulterated or fraudulent supplements.”
http://www.concordmonitor.com/home/15526533-95/editorial-supplement-industry-needs-more-oversight
http://www.motherearthliving.com/health-and-wellness/health-products/herbal-supplement-companies-zmez13jfzmel.aspx?PageId=1
Hey Angel. thanks for posting these links. will keep them for sure.
“Walmart poorest DNA product match”
No kidding?
What, Walmart selling bogus products? Say it ain’t so!
Hey brother. wudup? 🙂
Just talking smart and makin’ a sandwich for lunch. It’s just a nice day out. I may even go for a walk with a couple buddies. Me, myself, and I!
haha Go for it brother. 🙂 I’d come up but it’s cold enough right here.
Oh Paul, there’s still “significant shrinkage” upon stepping outside but the sun is out full and with a dark jacket you would be comfortable as there is virtually no wind at all.
It’s beautiful here. Sunny skies, about 51 degrees or so, no chemtrails (so far), and no wind either, Millard.
Love this place! 😀
🙂 🙂 🙂
Hey Angel! 😀
This must be a conspiracy! 😆 The meeting of the “masterminds”.
hint: I’m NOT in L.A. anymore. 😀
😆 🙂 😉
Hey Babe.