New Lab Guidance Tackles Elderberry Adulteration
A new industry guide provides methods to help detect fillers in elderberry products sold to U.S. consumers.
Updated on Sept. 22, 2026 in Organic Food
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The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program has released a laboratory guidance document detailing 22 methods to verify the authenticity of European elderberry ingredients. This initiative aims to address long-standing concerns regarding undeclared ingredients and understrength products in the U.S. supplement market.
Why it matters
Unethical suppliers have historically included black rice or purple colorants in elderberry products, compromising their intended quality. This guidance provides manufacturers with the technical tools to better detect these adulterants and ensure product integrity for consumers.
The Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program evaluated 22 analytical methods including chromatographic, spectrometric, and DNA-based testing, plus original research on macroscopic and microscopic analysis. The document was peer-reviewed by 17 professionals to support product authenticity.
The players
Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program
An industry-led consortium dedicated to preventing the adulteration of herbal supplements through the development of rigorous laboratory guidance and research.
The details
The guidance document outlines technical procedures to identify common adulterants such as black rice extracts and other anthocyanin-rich, plant-based dyes used to mimic elderberry. By using a combination of spectroscopic and chemical analysis, laboratories can better identify when blue or purple food colorants have been substituted for real elderberry. This helps prevent the sale of understrength products that fail to contain the actual botanical compounds expected by the purchaser.
Timeline
2020: U.S. sales of elderberry products reached $329.6 million.
2021: U.S. sales of elderberry products were $304.9 million.
2023: BAPP published an initial bulletin regarding elderberry adulteration.
2025: The U.S. elderberry product market size was $136 million.
- 2026-09-22
BAPP released the new laboratory guidance document.
Health Landscape
This guidance strengthens the verification process within the herbal supplement industry by providing standardized analytical protocols. It follows a shift toward more rigorous self-regulation as the market for botanical products continues to fluctuate.
Consumers should be aware that the supplement market can contain mislabeled or understrength products, which makes choosing reputable brands essential. If you have concerns about the specific ingredients or purity of your supplements, discuss these labels and your product choices with your physician.
The takeaway
The latest guidance provides a clearer path for laboratories to detect fillers in elderberry products. When purchasing supplements, consider looking for third-party certifications or reputable brands that demonstrate transparency in their quality control processes.
Further reading
Learn more about ingredient verification and supply chain transparency in our Organic Food section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Supplysidesj.
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