The ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program (BAPP) has published a bulletin on preventing adulteration of European elder berry (Sambucus nigra) and berry extract adulteration.
 
Elderberry preparations are commonly used for immune support, based on a background of clinical studies supporting its role in reducing common cold symptoms. During the first months of the COVID-19 pandemic, sales of elderberry rose sharply, and it became the top-selling dietary supplement ingredient in the mass market channel and the third best-selling botanical ingredient in natural retail stores, according to ABC’s 2021 Herb Market Report.
 
The new BAPP bulletin summarizes the current available evidence on elderberry extract adulteration, with data derived from seven reports and publications, five of which are from peer-reviewed journals. Typically, it involves the undisclosed inclusion of black rice (Oryza sativa) extracts, although other anthocyanin-rich plant extracts, and blue or purple food colorants, have been reported. Genuine elderberry extract can cost up to 30-times more than black rice extract, providing financial motivation for fraud.
 
The new bulletin was written by Stefan Gafner, PhD, chief science officer for the American Botanical Council (ABC), ABC board member, and BAPP director, and Josef Brinckmann, research fellow at Traditional Medicinals. It provides information on taxonomy, therapeutic uses, supply chain, market importance, and analytical methods to detect adulteration of the botanical. Twenty-two experts from academia, nonprofit organizations, contract analytical labs, government agencies, and the herb industry peer-reviewed the bulletin.
 
“Elderberry is one of my favorite phytomedicinal ingredients and one that I have used on numerous occasions over the past years,” said Gafner. “The relatively widespread occurrence of elder berry extract adulteration with extracts of black rice documented in the new bulletin is disturbing. However, recent discussions with responsible members of the herb and dietary supplement industry suggest that the elder berry market has been stabilizing. Some of the new brands that entered the market at the height of the elder berry demand cycle, and which may have unbeknownst to them been selling adulterated products, appear to have exited from the market. Therefore, the quality of available elder berry dietary supplement products may have improved in recent months.”
 
“As with other BAPP publications that clarify that some botanical ingredients in popular dietary supplements are subject to adulteration, the new BAPP Elder Berry Bulletin will be used as a reliable resource for research and development, quality control, and purchasing departments by many responsible members of the global medicinal plant community that adhere to appropriate and responsible best practices to help ensure the authenticity of the ingredients used in their consumer products,” said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director. “If the entire herb and dietary supplement industry were comprised of ethical players, of which there are many, we wouldn’t need BAPP’s efforts to help reduce and eliminate the sale of adulterated and fraudulent ingredients. Unfortunately, history tells us time and again that there are individuals and companies whose pursuit of profits outweighs their commitment to the welfare of consumers who use products with their questionable ingredients. Fortunately, there are many responsible companies that do care about quality and the consumer experience, and we’re deeply grateful to them for their support of BAPP’s mission.”
 
Back in 2021, BAPP published an article detailing results from analytical laboratories on ingredients or products on the market which were claiming to be elderberry. The report covered powder, bulk extracts, and finished dietary supplements which were on the market at the time.