[MPWG] Important critique of DNA Barcoding publication that claimed contamination and substitution in North American herbal products

Thu Nov 7 11:00:38 CST 2013

Hello Mark and all, 
Right now, at 9am PST, a very influential radio show is going to spend an hour talking about the herbal product contamination story. The show, Forum, at KQED on , is the most credible talk show on San Francisco radio, and the show is widely carried across the country on PRI and NPR. Please try to listen in at, and call in with this expertise. They'll read selected emails during the conversation, and take calls. Listen live at http://www.kqed.org/radio/listen/
Call or email during the show here: 
Forum, KQED
toll free call-in: (866) 733-6786
email: forum at kqed.org

Kathleen Harrison, M.A., Ethnobotanist
kat at botanicaldimensions.org
botanicaldimensions.org
Botanical Dimensions	
PO Box 807
Occidental CA 95465

from http://www.kqed.org/radio/programs/forum/
Thu, Nov 7, 2013 -- 9:00 AM
Study Raises Questions About Herbal Supplements
A new study from the University of Guelph in Canada finds that many herbal supplements are diluted or replaced with fillers, such as wheat and rice, that aren't listed on their labels. Using a technique called DNA barcoding, researchers discovered that many products were misleadingly labeled. Critics of the multibillion-dollar-a-year supplement industry say it is defrauding consumers and that FDA regulation is inadequate. Industry groups claim the study is flawed. We discuss the findings and what they mean for consumers.

On Nov 7, 2013, at 6:51 AM, Mark Blumenthal wrote:

> Thank you, Patricia, for your kind and positive comments about ABC's recent critique of the Newmaster et al paper in BMC Medicine. We here at ABC certainly appreciate your sending this out to your MPWG list serve members. 
> 
> Gratefully, 
> 
> Mark
> 
> Mark Blumenthal
> Founder & Executive Director
> American Botanical Council
> Editor-in-Chief, HerbalGram & HerbClip
> 
> PO Box 144345
> Austin, TX 78714-4345
> ph: 512-926-4900 x102
> www.herbalgram.org
> Skype: markblumenthal1
> 
> From: "<De Angelis>", Patricia De Angelis <patricia_deangelis at fws.gov>
> Date: Thursday, November 7, 2013 7:03 AM
> To: mpwg <mpwg at lists.plantconservation.org>
> Subject: [MPWG] Important critique of DNA Barcoding publication that claimed contamination and substitution in North American herbal products
> 
> The efficacy of medicinal plants in the United States is often maligned due to poorly designed clinical trials or research projects.  Unfortunately, the public hears the sensational headlines surrounding the initial negative findings, but rarely do balanced, reliable responses such as the one provided by American Botanical Council get any airtime. I'm doing my part.
> 
> Patricia S. De Angelis, Ph.D.
> Botanist, Division of Scientific Authority-US Fish & Wildlife Service-International Affairs
> Chair, Medicinal Plant Working Group-Plant Conservation Alliance
> 4401 N. Fairfax Dr., Suite 110
> Arlington, VA  22203
> 703-358-1708 x1753
> FAX: 703-358-2276
> 
> Promoting sustainable use and conservation of our native medicinal plants. 
> <www.nps.gov/plants/medicinal>
> 
> Follow International Affairs
> > on Twitter  http://twitter.com/USFWSInternatl
> > on Facebook   http://www.facebook.com/USFWS_InternationalAffairs
> 
> =============================
> 
> ABC Review and Critique of the Research Article "DNA Barcoding Detects Contamination and Substitution In North American Herbal Products" by Newmaster et al.
> 
> By Stefan Gafner, PhD; Mark Blumenthal; Danica Harbaugh Reynaud, PhD; Steven Foster; Natascha Techen, PhD  
> 
> A team of botanical identification, natural product, and other experts
> critiques an article published in the open-access journal BMC Medicine
> that found a high percentage of adulterated herbal products. This
> critique lists 10 problems, errors, and areas of confusion in the DNA
> paper, as noted in a November 5 press release from ABC.  
> 
> Read more>>http://cms.herbalgram.org/heg/volume10/11November/DNAbarcodingReviewandCritique.html?ts=1383766837&signature=a128c179cbedfa05155fc48079e7ceb4
> 
> 
> 
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