Garden Grove, CA—Twenty ingredients have been identified by Alkemist Labs in the second half of 2024 as the fungi and botanicals to most frequently fail identity testing. The list, a compilation of botanicals warranting manufacturers pay closer attention to sourcing and testing details prior to inclusion in products, was published by the ISO 17025 accredited contract testing lab. In June of 2024, WholeFoods Magazine shared Alkemist's list of the first 20 botanicals of 2024 that required a closer look. “We share this information with the industry so companies can be more vigilant,” explained Petra Erlandson, Alkemist Labs Director of Sales and Marketing. “Additionally, we think it’s important that those sourcing raw material familiarize themselves with the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) and its tools, and develop a policy for handing serious quality issues in advance.”
Ingredients That Call for Extra Scrutiny
With a flexible scope ISO 17025 accreditation for High Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography and a state-of-the-art facility in California, Alkemist Labs was able to test samples using HPTLC to detect adulterants and contamination like incorrect plant parts, closely related species, and unknowns. Their test results flagged the following materials (Latin Name - Common Name) :
- Angelica sinensis Dong quai
- Beta vulgaris Beet
- Camellia sinensis Tea
- Cinnamomum verum Cinnamon
- Ganoderma lucidum Reishi
- Hericium erinaceus Lion’s mane*
- Malpighia sp. Acerola
- Matricaria recutita chamomile
- Melissa officinalis Lemon balm*
- Origanum vulgare oregano
- Passiflora incarnata passionflower
- Rhodiola rosea Rhodiola*
- Siraitia grosvenorii Luo han guo, monk fruit*
- Stevia rebaudiana Stevia*
- Taraxacum officinale Dandelion*
- Trametes versicolor Turkey tail
- Urtica dioica Nettle, stinging nettle
- Valeriana officinalis Valerian
- Vitis vinifera Grape
- Withania somnifera Ashwagandha*
*Appeared on a previous version of this list
Elderberry saw the most failures in 2023 and the first half of 2024, but did not make this latest version of the list. Lion's mane, Lemon balm, monk fruit, Rhodiola, Stevia, and Ashwagandha all continue to be featured on other editions of the lab's logs.
