Marketplace analysis demonstrates quality control standards needed for black raspberry dietary supplements.

Jungmin Lee

doi:10.1007/s11130-014-0416-y

Abstract

There is currently no standard for the minimum anthocyanin concentration a black raspberry dietary supplement must contain for legal sale in the US. All consumer available black raspberry products (n = 19), packaged as dietary supplements or otherwise prepared (freeze-dried whole and pre-ground powders), were purchased and analyzed for their anthocyanin composition and concentration. Seven of the 19 samples contained no anthocyanins from black raspberry fruit, while three of those seven (without black raspberry fruit) had no anthocyanins of any kind. There was a wide range of anthocyanin concentration within the remaining products (18.1–2,904.8 mg/100 g; n = 12). When expressed as per capsule or per ∼1 teaspoon, concentration ranged from 0.1 to 145.2 mg (average 28 mg; n = 12). Until US dietary supplement labeling comes under regulatory oversight similar to food guidelines, foods are a more dependable source for dietary phenolics than supplements.

Highlights

The USDA (United States Department of Agriculture) has put together several campaigns advocating a healthy eating diet by having one that is color diverse (USDA 5 A Day campaign, USDA ChooseMyPlate.gov, HealthierUS School Challenge-HUSSC, etc.)
Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.; native to Eastern North America) fruit has been traditionally used as a food and a natural colorant, but renewed US consumer interest has brought an upsurge in the number of commercial black raspberry products available
Relevant information from packaging, prices, and observations are summarized in Table 1; including the labeled contents from the products that were found to contain no black raspberry fruit

Summary

Introduction

Black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis L.; native to Eastern North America) fruit has been traditionally used as a food and a natural colorant, but renewed US consumer interest has brought an upsurge in the number of commercial black raspberry products available (from desserts to dietary supplements; [4]). This can partially be explained by increased awareness of the potential health benefits high-pigmented fruit might provide [1,2,3, 5, 6], but their distinct flavor, unlike blackberries or red raspberries, may help. Unfortunate side effects of intensified consumer demand have been occurrences of product adulteration, though some likely arose from the limited production of black raspberries, which due to their unique growing requirements make Oregon the only US state with notable acreage [4]

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