06.09.10
Greens powders—made from wheat grass, alfalfa, kelp, spirulina, leafy vegetables and other chlorophyll-containing ingredients—were recently tested by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, for potential contamination with heavy metals and pesticides. ConsumerLab.com found that six of the eight products selected for testing met quality standards, but two products were contaminated with lead and/or cadmium.
Americans purchased $74 million worth of “greens” products in 2009, according to Nutrition Business Journal.
“Greens powders are generally high in fiber, low in fats, cholesterol and sodium, and can provide a range of vitamins and antioxidants,” said Tod Cooperman, MD, president of ConsumerLab.com. “However, being of made of many plants, a product can be contaminated by heavy metals.”
ConsumerLab.com found, for example, that one “greens” powder contained 19.6 mcg of lead per daily serving, which significantly contributes toward the FDA’s provisional limit for adults and exceeds the 6 mcg daily limit for children.
The new Product Review of Greens and Whole Foods Powders provides test results for nine products—eight selected by ConsumerLab.com and one that passed ConsumerLab.com's Voluntary Certification Program. Products included in the report are Amazing Grass Green Superfood, Deeper Greens, Gary Null’s Green Stuff, Green Foods Magma Plus, InnerLight SuperGreens, Natural Factors Enriching Greens, Nature’s Way Alive! Whole Food Energizer, New Chapter Organics Probiotic Berry Green, and Vibrant Health Green Vibrance. In addition to test results, the report reviews and compares the amounts of vitamins, minerals, and other ingredients in the products.
