Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples
Background and objective: Commercially available cannabidiol (CBD) products are increasingly being used for medicinal purposes, including for the treatment of various neurological conditions, but there are growing concerns around adherence to quality control measures that protect consumers. This stu...
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2024-03-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1335441/full |
| _version_ | 1797258494696488960 |
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| author | Barry E. Gidal Ryan Vandrey Chela Wallin Sean Callan Alan Sutton Timothy B. Saurer Jennifer L. Triemstra |
| author_facet | Barry E. Gidal Ryan Vandrey Chela Wallin Sean Callan Alan Sutton Timothy B. Saurer Jennifer L. Triemstra |
| author_sort | Barry E. Gidal |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Background and objective: Commercially available cannabidiol (CBD) products are increasingly being used for medicinal purposes, including for the treatment of various neurological conditions, but there are growing concerns around adherence to quality control measures that protect consumers. This study was conducted to assess the purity and label accuracy of commercially available CBD products.Methods: Commercially available CBD products were chosen from the open stream of commerce in the United States based on formulations as a tincture, gummy, vape, or topical product. Cannabinoid concentrations were analyzed to verify label accuracy including “full spectrum,” “broad spectrum,” and “CBD isolate” claims on the product label. Analysis for the presence of contaminants included evaluation for heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents. Labeled and actual total amounts of CBD and levels of impurities such as heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticides were measured.Results: A total of 202 CBD products (100 tinctures, 48 gummies, 34 vape products, and 20 topicals) were chosen to represent a broad sample in the United States. Of the products tested (full spectrum, n = 84; broad spectrum, n = 28; CBD isolate, n = 37), 26% did not meet the definition for product type claimed on the packaging. The majority of products (74%) deviated from their label claim of CBD potency by at least 10%. Heavy metals were detected 52 times across 44 of the 202 products tested, with lead being the most prevalent heavy metal. Residual solvents were detected 446 times across 181 of 202 products, with the highest concentrations reported for hexane, m/p-xylene, methanol, and o-xylene. Of 232 pesticides tested, 26 were found 55 times across 30 products. A total of 3% of heavy metals, 1% of residual solvents, and 1% of pesticides violated >1 regulatory threshold.Discussion: This study demonstrated that the majority of commercially available CBD products tested within the current study are inaccurately labeled. Heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticides were found in several products, some of which violated regulatory thresholds. Thus, uniform compliance with CBD quality control measures is lacking and raises consumer protection concerns. Improved regulatory oversight of this industry is recommended. |
| first_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:54:26Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-14c7d24005a04d26b3f6394f33fc0f5b |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1663-9812 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-04-24T22:54:26Z |
| publishDate | 2024-03-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Pharmacology |
| spelling | doaj.art-14c7d24005a04d26b3f6394f33fc0f5b2024-03-18T08:51:37ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Pharmacology1663-98122024-03-011510.3389/fphar.2024.13354411335441Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samplesBarry E. Gidal0Ryan Vandrey1Chela Wallin2Sean Callan3Alan Sutton4Timothy B. Saurer5Jennifer L. Triemstra6University of Wisconsin School of Pharmacy, Madison, WI, United StatesJohns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesEllipse Analytics, Denver, CO, United StatesEllipse Analytics, Denver, CO, United StatesJazz Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, United StatesJazz Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, United StatesJazz Pharmaceuticals, Carlsbad, CA, United StatesBackground and objective: Commercially available cannabidiol (CBD) products are increasingly being used for medicinal purposes, including for the treatment of various neurological conditions, but there are growing concerns around adherence to quality control measures that protect consumers. This study was conducted to assess the purity and label accuracy of commercially available CBD products.Methods: Commercially available CBD products were chosen from the open stream of commerce in the United States based on formulations as a tincture, gummy, vape, or topical product. Cannabinoid concentrations were analyzed to verify label accuracy including “full spectrum,” “broad spectrum,” and “CBD isolate” claims on the product label. Analysis for the presence of contaminants included evaluation for heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents. Labeled and actual total amounts of CBD and levels of impurities such as heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticides were measured.Results: A total of 202 CBD products (100 tinctures, 48 gummies, 34 vape products, and 20 topicals) were chosen to represent a broad sample in the United States. Of the products tested (full spectrum, n = 84; broad spectrum, n = 28; CBD isolate, n = 37), 26% did not meet the definition for product type claimed on the packaging. The majority of products (74%) deviated from their label claim of CBD potency by at least 10%. Heavy metals were detected 52 times across 44 of the 202 products tested, with lead being the most prevalent heavy metal. Residual solvents were detected 446 times across 181 of 202 products, with the highest concentrations reported for hexane, m/p-xylene, methanol, and o-xylene. Of 232 pesticides tested, 26 were found 55 times across 30 products. A total of 3% of heavy metals, 1% of residual solvents, and 1% of pesticides violated >1 regulatory threshold.Discussion: This study demonstrated that the majority of commercially available CBD products tested within the current study are inaccurately labeled. Heavy metals, residual solvents, and pesticides were found in several products, some of which violated regulatory thresholds. Thus, uniform compliance with CBD quality control measures is lacking and raises consumer protection concerns. Improved regulatory oversight of this industry is recommended.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1335441/fullcannabidiolproduct label accuracycontaminantsmislabelingquality control |
| spellingShingle | Barry E. Gidal Ryan Vandrey Chela Wallin Sean Callan Alan Sutton Timothy B. Saurer Jennifer L. Triemstra Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples Frontiers in Pharmacology cannabidiol product label accuracy contaminants mislabeling quality control |
| title | Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| title_full | Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| title_fullStr | Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| title_full_unstemmed | Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| title_short | Product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| title_sort | product labeling accuracy and contamination analysis of commercially available cannabidiol product samples |
| topic | cannabidiol product label accuracy contaminants mislabeling quality control |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fphar.2024.1335441/full |
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