Sabinsa reports false claims of amla-derived vitamin C to the FDA

30 Nov 2020 --- US-based nutraceutical manufacturer Sabinsa has uncovered an ingredient falsely marketed as amla-derived vitamin C in its ongoing efforts to remove adulterated additives from the market. 

The company submitted evidence to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Administration (FTA) that an ingredient sold as vitamin C derived from amla fruit was in fact derived from corn, sugar cane or other plants. Two independent laboratories confirmed the results.

The company responsible for releasing the ingredient has not yet been disclosed. Besides qualifying as false advertising, the finding could potentially be considered an adulteration of ingredients under the Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act. 

False advertising for vitamin C on the rise
Sabinsa has drawn attention to a growing trend of market products falsely purporting to contain “pure” vitamin C extract, which is often “spiked” with cheap, biosynthetic versions of the ingredient. 

“Sabinsa is working to bring such products to the attention of appropriate government agencies. We urge industry to exercise caution when purchasing ‘natural’ vitamin C additives and supplements,” says Dr. Muhammed Majeed, founder and chairman of Sabina. 

Sabinsa confirmed an adulterated version of vitamin C has been falsely labelled as amla extract.

Sabinsa confirmed an adulterated version of vitamin C has been falsely labelled as amla extract. 

Although it was once believed that amla fruit contained significant ascorbic acid levels, the claims were later shown to be erroneous. Sabinsa notes that amla fruit’s antioxidant properties are mainly attributable to gallic acid esters. 

Since 1995, isotope ratio mass spectrometry (IRMS) has allowed for the detection of extraneously added ingredients. 

“Absent independent IRMS confirming the authenticity of such materials showed they may be adulterated with biosynthetic vitamin C. This is especially a concern with purportedly ‘pure’ amla-based vitamin C additives,” says Majeed. 

“Because amla only contains trace amounts of vitamin C, such products are likely adulterated with vitamin C from other sources,” concludes Majeed. 

Vitamin C in demand 
Sabina’s discovery of false claims comes amid a surge in demand for vitamin C, for which supply was disrupted in China (where 95 percent of the world’s ascorbic acid is produced) this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 

The vitamin’s potential ability to fight COVID-19 by strengthening immune systems has brought it into the spotlight and created an incentive for industry to add the nutritional claim to product labels. 

Supply chain issues resulting from the pandemic compounded worries in spring that access to the ingredient could fall. 

Vitamin C has long been a popular vitamin, with Innova Market Insights reporting it present in over half of new product launches in 2018 that featured vitamins.

Amla fruit’s benefits
Also known as the indian gooseberry, amla fruit is touted for its ability to alleviate dyslipidemia, a leading contributing risk factor to the development of atherosclerosis.

A study last year showed the fruit can help lower cholesterol. 

Earlier this year, Sabinsa’s patented hair serum formulation, which contains amla extract, was found to improve hair loss and thinning significantly. 

Edited 

By Louis Gore-Langton