10.01.03
In contrast to its testing three years ago in which nearly 60% of Asian and American ginseng supplements were found to have significant problems, testing of recently purchased products by ConsumerLab.com, White Plains, NY, found problems with a far lower percentage (17%). In one of five products claiming to contain Korean ginseng, a high amount of the pesticide hexachlorobenzene was found. In 2000, most Korean ginseng products showed pesticide contamination. One other product that failed the new testing was a liquid Chinese ginseng sold in single-dose bottles. Despite being labeled “Extra Strength”, this product contained less than 10% of the expected ginsenosides, which are the biologically active constituents of ginseng. In 2000, more than 30% of ginseng products tested low in ginsenosides.