MeSci
ME/CFS since 1995; activity level 6?
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From Physician's First Watch. I expect that the Alliance for Natural Health will comment on this at some point, but it made me wonder - what supplements actually should contain DNA? Don't processing methods often kill/inactivate/remove DNA but still preserve active ingredients?
I would agree broadly that DNA from plants not listed on the label is worrying, but might this not sometimes be very minor contamination in carrier substances like oils, gums, resins, etc.? I also note that one of the unlisted herbs was daisy. Echinacea is in the daisy family, so could the DNA evidence be wrong?
I would agree broadly that DNA from plants not listed on the label is worrying, but might this not sometimes be very minor contamination in carrier substances like oils, gums, resins, etc.? I also note that one of the unlisted herbs was daisy. Echinacea is in the daisy family, so could the DNA evidence be wrong?
NY Attorney General: Store-Brand Supplements Rarely Contain the Herbs Shown on the Label
By Kelly Young
Edited by
- David G. Fairchild, MD, MPH, and
- Lorenzo Di Francesco, MD, FACP, FHM
The New York Attorney General's office has warned GNC, Target, Walmart, and Walgreens to stop selling many common store-brand herbal supplements after DNA tests found that many did not contain the ingredient listed on the product's label or contained contaminants or fillers not included on the label.
Only 21% of the test results from store-brand herbal supplements indicated that the supplements had DNA from the plants listed on the labels. Walmart fared the worst, with only 4% of tests indicating that the product contained DNA from the advertised plant.
At each retailer, the investigation looked at six different herbal supplements, including St. John's wort, ginseng, and echinacea.
Link(s):
New York Attorney General's news release (Free) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68135636;smo5SRlwQ1mcNyrEGFfKGVmmoUdQVVq02YE0yHDlRBQ=
New York Times story (Free) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68135636;smo5SRlwQ1mcNyrEGFfKGdb5VtBcFVeG2YE0yHDlRBQ=
Background: NEJM Journal Watch General Medicine summary on recalled dietary supplements (Free) http://click.jwatch.org/cts/click?q=227;68135636;smo5SRlwQ1mcNyrEGFfKGVPkg3L3EYOS2YE0yHDlRBQ=