Consumerlab.com & echinacea
This article was originally published in The Tan Sheet
Executive Summary
Five of 11 echinacea products fall short in examination by online testing firm, with lower-than-claimed amounts of compounds such as echinacosides and phenols the most common failing. Consumerlab gave a thumbs up to echinacea supplements marketed under the Nature's Resource, Nutrilite, Puritan's Pride, Sundown and Vitamin World brands. President Tod Cooperman, MD, says negative results may arise because "the wrong plant species or plant part may be used; levels of important plant chemicals may be low if the herb is not properly grown, harvested, processed, shipped and stored; and lead levels may be high due to contaminated soil"...