DNA barcoding is a critical part of improving the industry’s quality program, says NY AG’s office
Data presented at the prestigious 16th Annual Oxford International Conference on the Science of Botanicals at the University of Mississippi last week from both the FDA and an Australian research consortium indicated that DNA barcoding by itself is not an adequate method for analyzing botanical dietary supplements.
The NY AG’s Office was unmoved by the conclusions. NutraIngredients-USA asked the NY AG's office to respond to our article, and Doug Cohen, spokesman for AG Schneiderman, emailed us the following statement: “Testing using various chemical and genetic methods shows that, far too often, when consumers buy herbal supplements, they’re not getting what they paid for. We believe that DNA barcoding is a critical part of improving the industry’s approach to ensuring identity and avoiding contamination.
“We’re heartened by the responsible voices in the supplements industry who agree—and are beginning to incorporate DNA barcoding as part of their testing protocols.”
Study details
The new studies were performed by scientists at the US Food and Drug Administration and a team from Integria Healthcare, The University of Queensland, Southern Cross University, Western Sydney University, and the Australian Genome Research Facility.
Mark Blumenthal, founder & executive director of the American Botanical Council, told us that the new research on the use of DNA barcode analytical methodology clearly confirmed what many botanical analytical experts have been saying all along: “That the results of DNA testing methods by themselves are inadequate and inappropriate criteria for accurately and definitively determining the true identity of botanical dietary ingredients, whether as an ingredient alone as well as that ingredient in a matrix of a finished dietary supplement product.
“Regulators, plaintiffs’ attorneys, journalists, industry members, independent laboratories, and other interested parties should take careful note of these studies so that they do not attempt to base any activities simply on the basis of DNA-based analytical methods alone. As most qualified experts have noted, a combination of appropriate analytical methods is necessary for the accurate analysis of botanical materials, particularly those used in dietary supplements.”
To read our full article about the research, please click HERE.
