AHPA issues materials to help identify quality of bilberry extract

SILVER SPRING, Md. The American Herbal Products Association earlier this week provided analytical tools and methods to identify adulteration of powdered raw materials labeled as bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus) extract.

“AHPA is providing methods to help enable proper evaluations of materials where identity and quality issues are known to exist,” stated Steven Dentali, AHPA’s vice president of scientific and technical affairs. “By providing these analytical methods, we will help companies make better ingredient purchasing decisions.”

The methods, along with color images of the results, are on the AHPA website.

Disseminating these quality assurance methods is part of AHPA’s ongoing initiative to provide practical tools that enable the dietary supplements industry to self-regulate.