Yet another study evaluating the label accuracy and content of various hemp-derived cannabidiol (CBD) products available in the USA has revealed disappointing results.
Led by Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine researchers, the study saw 97 hair care, cosmetic, and food/drink products claiming to contain cannabidiol purchased from retail stores in the Baltimore, Maryland area; both directly from bricks and mortar storefronts and online. Cannabinoid concentrations of each product were measured using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.
Of the 71 products with a specific total CBD amount on the label:
- 35 (49%) had >10% more CBD than noted on the label
- 27 (38%) had >10% less CBD than noted
- 9 (12.7%) were accurately labeled (within ±10% of labeled CBD).
Another notable finding was 10 products did not contain any CBD at all.
The researchers said CBD label accuracy did not differ significantly between products with third-party testing claims versus those without. Many products also made therapeutic claims or engaged in marketing tactics to seemingly convey they were safe and healthy. However, only around one-third included disclaimers that these statements had not been evaluated by the FDA.
“These findings highlight the need for proper regulatory oversight of cannabinoid-containing products to ensure quality assurance and deter misleading or unfounded health claims in product marketing,” state the researchers.
Accuracy of CBD product labeling has been an ongoing issue. But an important point to highlight is although the study has only very recently been published, the purchases were made in July and August of 2020 – 4 years ago. As there has been significant coverage of CBD labeling issues since then, hopefully more producers have tidied up their acts.
The Johns Hopkins study has been published in the journal Cannabis and Cannabinoid Research.
Commenting on the research, NORML said it and other groups have urged the FDA to implement regulatory guidelines concerning the production, testing, labeling, and marketing of hemp-derived CBD products.
“Third-party analyses conducted by the FDA and others have consistently reported that commercially available CBD products are of variable quality and potency, and that they may contain contaminants, adulterants, or elevated levels of heavy metals,” states NORML.
Cannabinoid product mislabeling is by no means confined to the USA either. For example, just this month we reported labelling discrepancies of some cannabinoid products sold in Portugal.
