Published: February 8, 2015 <\/p>\n
Associated Press <\/p>\n
A man leaves a GNC store Tuesday in New York. <\/p>\n
ALBANY, N.Y. DNA barcoding exposed some infamous cases of food fraud, like cheap catfish sold as pricey grouper and expensive sheeps milk cheese that was really made from cows milk. <\/p>\n
But can it tell if a pill touted as an energy-booster contains ginseng or is just a mix of rice powder and pine? <\/p>\n
Some scientists say yes, while industry groups and some independent experts say DNA testing alone is inadequate for analyzing botanical products that have gone through a lot of processing from leaf to tablet. <\/p>\n
About 65,000 dietary supplements are on the market, consumed by more than 150 million Americans, according to a 2013 Canadian government study. The American Botanical Council estimates U.S. sales of herbal supplements came to $6 billion that year. <\/p>\n
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration requires companies to verify their products are safe and properly labeled, but supplements are exempt from the FDAs strict approval process for prescription drugs. <\/p>\n
New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman said lax oversight of supplements can have serious public health consequences, noting a 2013 hepatitis outbreak traced to a tainted diet supplement and the death of a baby at a Connecticut hospital after doctors gave the child a probiotic supplement later found to be contaminated with yeast. <\/p>\n
Last week, Schneiderman ordered Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target and GNC to stop selling store-brand herbal supplements DNA tests found questionable. <\/p>\n
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Continued here: Published: February 8, 2015 Associated Press A man leaves a GNC store Tuesday in New York. ALBANY, N.Y Continue reading
\nSupplements industry derides N.Y. attorney generals DNA tests<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"