The American Botanical Council (ABC) announced the publication of A Brief History of Adulteration of Herbs, Spices, and Botanical Drugs by botanist, author, photographer and president of ABC's board of trustees Steven Foster in the Fall 2011 issue of HerbalGram.
In the paper, Foster provides an overview of the history of adulteration stretching back to Greco-Roman antiquity. Foster defines "adulteration" in the paper as "accidental, negligent, or intentional variations in identity, strength, purity, and expected outcomes from a named or at least implied identity of a drug" or food, spice, or dietary ingredient.
"We commissioned Steven Foster to write this article as we believe it is important to frame the issue of accidental and intentional adulteration of botanical ingredients in the historical perspective," said Mark Blumenthal, ABC founder and executive director. "It is essential for people to realize that adulteration is an ancient and ongoing practice: unfortunately, people have been cheating in commerce since the beginning of civilization!"
"I have found the topic of adulteration fascinating ever since I first encountered catnip stem-chaff left over from catnip seed harvest masquerading as catnip herb over 30 years ago," said Foster. "Proper verification and authentication of botanicals and plant parts entering commercial trade is of increasing importance to discerning consumers demanding high-quality herbal products to deliver expected benefits. Quality is not a marketing slogan; it is a consumer right."
The article contains historic illustrations and Foster's own plant photography. It was peer reviewed by five experts in the history of pharmacy and medicine and additional expert reviewers. The article is the first in a series of articles and white papers on adulteration of botanical materials used in foods, spices and food flavorings, dietary ingredients, drugs and cosmetics as part of the ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program, a recently-announced consortium of nonprofit organizations and independent analytical laboratories headed by the American Botanical Council, the American Herbal Pharmacopoeia and the National Center for Natural Products Research at the University of Mississippi.
For more information, visit, http://abc.herbalgram.org/site/R?i=bHCtQNGxGij_ri3Ayo738w.
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