Über unsMoringa Leaf Powder – Pesticide Residues and Dishonest Advertising Continue
Still not super: the "Superfood“ Moringa
Ein Bericht aus unserem Laboralltag
Ellen Scherbaum, Dr. Christiane Lerch
The results from moringa leaf powder analyses conducted in 2016 revealed no improvements in either the residue situation or the misleading advertisements, in comparison to previous years. In 2016 a total of 15 samples of moringa leaf powder were investigated, including two samples labelled as "nutritional supplements“.
One sample contained salmonella and was judged to be a health hazard. Pesticide residues were also analyzed in 11 of the 15 samples. Eight of these samples contained residues from one or more pesticides in levels that exceeded the valid maximum level for pesticides. Moreover, one sample contained nicotine in the amount of 16 mg/kg. This sample was assessed to be unsafe, and was classified by an external toxicologist as a health hazard.
All of the 14 samples that were checked in terms of labeling and advertising were in violation, mostly due to misleading nutrition and health claims.
Photo: wasanajai/shutterstock.com
General information regarding the moringa tree and investigatory results from the previous year can be found in our report (available in German language only): Nicht besonders super – das Superfood Moringa.
Moringa oleifera is a nutritionally valuable plant in the diet of African and Asian populations and is, in many respects, significant for the environment [1], [2], [3].
However, considering the available food supply here in Germany, it doesn’t make sense to consume moringa in the form of nutritional supplements or other products. Based on current scientific knowledge, there is no special nutritional benefit to be expected [4].
Analytical Results
Residues of Pesticides and Contaminants
As in previous years, there was a conspicuously high number of samples with one or more exceedances of the maximum residue level (MRL) permitted for pesticides (9 of 11 samples). Moreover, six of the seven samples labelled as organic were judged to be fraudulent, due to the presence of chemical-synthetic pesticides not authorized for use in organic farming.
| Item | Organic Lable | No. Substances | Exceedance of MRL | "Organic" judged as fraudulent | Presence of Perchlorate > 0.1 mg/kg |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moringa Leaf Powder 1 |
No | 16 | Yes | - | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 2 |
Yes | 7 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 3 |
Yes | 5 | No | No | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 4 |
No | 3 | Reported exceedance unverified | - | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 5 |
Yes | 2 | Reported exceedance unverified | Yes | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 6 |
Yes | 6 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 7 |
No | 7 | Yes | - | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 8 |
No | 6 | No | - | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 9 |
Yes | 7 | Reported exceedance unverified | Yes | Yes |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 10 |
Yes | 8 | Yes | Yes | No |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 11 |
Yes | 3 | Yes | Yes | Yes |
There are no special maximum levels established for moringa leaves. They are evaluated the same as herbal teas (e.g. gingko leaves), since they are also dried leaves. In addition, moringa leaf powder is used in amounts similar to tea; in contrast to tea leaves, however, the powder is consumed directly.
| Sample Number | Organic Lable | Pesticide Name | Amount mg/kg | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Moringa Leaf Powder 1 | No | Acetamiprid | 0.12 | > MRL |
| BAC (n=8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) | 0.15 | > MRL, unverified | ||
| Chlorate | 0.012 | > MRL, unverified | ||
| Cypermethrin | 4.1 | > MRL | ||
| Deltamethrin | 0.16 | > MRL | ||
| Emamectin B1a/B1b | 0.021 | > MRL, unverified | ||
| Fipronil, Sum | 0.089 | > MRL | ||
| Lufenuron | 0.15 | > MRL | ||
| Methomyl, Sum | 1.1 | > MRL | ||
| Permethrin | 1.7 | > MRL | ||
| Profenofos | 0.15 | > MRL | ||
| Moringa Leaf Powder 2 | Yes | DEET | 0.072 | > MRL |
| Iprobenfos | 0.19 | > MRL | ||
| Moringa Leaf Powder 4 | No | Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | 0.078 | > MRL, unverified |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 5 | Yes | Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | 0.067 | > MRL, unverified |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 6 | Yes | Nicotine | 16.0 | > MRL |
| Propamocarb | 0.057 | > MRL, unverified | ||
| Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | 0.091 | > MRL, unverified | ||
| Moringa Leaf Powder 7 | No | Nicotine | 0.71 | > MRL, unverified |
| Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | 0.12 | > MRL | ||
| Moringa Leaf Powder 9 | Yes | Ametryn | 0.020 | > MRL, unverified |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 10 | Yes | Chlorate | 0.034 | > MRL |
| Moringa Leaf Powder 11 | Yes | Bromide | 109 | > MRL, unverified |
| Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | 0.29 | > MRL |
Nicotine was found in one sample, in the amount of 16 mg/kg sample. Considering the daily recommended intake of 15.5 g as stated on the sample labels, an adult weighing an average of 70 kg would consume 0.25 mg nicotine per day, exhausting the acute reference dose for nicotine by 438 %. The sample was judged, therefore, to be unsafe, in accordance with Article 14, Paragraph 1 of Regulation (EC) 178/2002. In the course of further proceedings an external toxicologist was consulted, who classified the sample as being a health hazard.
| Substance | Function | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Ametryn | Herbicide | |
| BAC (n = 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18) | Bactericide | Probably from disinfectant |
| Bromide | Disinfestation | From Methylbromide |
| Chlorate | Herbicide | Probably from chlorinated water |
| Cypermethrin | Insecticide, Pyrethroid | Also used on stored products |
| DEET | Repellent | Probably from contamination |
| Deltamethrin | Insecticide, Pyrethroid | Also used on stored products |
| Emamectin B1a/B1b | Insecticide | |
| Fipronil, Sum | Insecticide, Acaricide | |
| Iprobenfos | Fungicide, Phosphoric acid ester | |
| Lufenuron | Insecticide | |
| Methomyl, Sum | Insecticide | |
| Nicotine | Insecticide | Also from tobacco |
| Permethrin | Insecticide, Pyrethroid | Also used on stored products |
| Profenofos | Insecticide, Phosphoric acid ester | |
| Propamocarb | Fungicide | |
| Trimethylsulfonium-Cation | Herbicide (-part) | Part of glyphosate preparation (counterion) |
As shown in Table 1, 10 of the 11 samples contained perchlorate in amounts over 0.1 mg/kg. Perchlorates are the salts of perchloric acid. They are easily soluble in water and are pervasive in the environment. The industrial usage of perchlorate is extensive and very diverse: it is used in the metal processing industry, in paper finishing, as a dewatering agent, as an oxidizing agent, and in explosives and fuel. This widespread industrial usage of perchlorates could be a cause for the contamination of food. Further possible causes are the application of fertilizers and artificial irrigation methods (report from the Federal Environment Office). On recommendation by the EU Commission, the Standing Committee on Plants, Animals, Food and Feed (SCoPAFF) stipulated reference values for perchlorate in food that should not be exceeded. Nevertheless, four of the analyzed samples contained perchlorate in amounts greater than the then valid reference values of 0.75 mg/kg for tea. The responsible food business operators should undertake measures in their self-monitoring programs to determine the possible source of the detected residues and should take effective steps to minimize the residues.
Polycyclic Hydrocarbons (PAH) and Heavy Metals
Thus far analyses of the moringa samples for the presence of PAHs or the heavy metals lead, cadmium or quicksilver conducted by CVUA Stuttgart have not given cause for any reportage of violation.
General information regarding contamination from pollutants in "Superfoods“ (available in German language only) can be found here .
Labelling and Advertising of Moringa Leaf Powder
Exaggerated claims regarding nutritional content were the order of the day, with the legally required disclosure of the quantities of the advertised nutrients often missing. Omitting this information prevents the consumer from knowing that the daily quantity taken in is actually, in many cases, very small.
In general, nutrients are given in quantities per 100 g. For foods like moringa leaf powder and nutritional additives containing moringa, however, the label indicates a significantly lower amount to be consumed. A promotion is only justified when a nutrition-physiologically relevant amount of the substance is present in 100 g or in the recommended daily portion. For vitamins and minerals an additional declaration is required, stating what percent of the daily requirement is contained in 100 g or in the recommended daily portion. This is usually provided in the following terms: “% NRV – Nutrient Reference Value”.
Providing information on vitamins and minerals is only allowed when they constitute a minimum of 15 % of the NRV – a claim of a "high quantity of nutritional substances“ would require that at least 30 % of the NRV be covered.
Info Box – Consumer Tip
Products containing promises of especially high levels of nutrients without providing any concrete information thereof should be met with skepticism.
In addition to the required general declaration regarding nutritional values, every substance that is advertised must be specifically listed and the amount given in 100 g units or as a recommended daily dosage.
A mere, lapidary indication of "anti-oxidative substances“ or a "high ORAC-value“ is, e.g., insufficient.
If the products are sold over the Internet, the required information must not only be provided on the product packaging, but also be made available to the consumer before the purchase is made.
What does the ORAC-value mean?
Advertisements for moringa often emphasize the "ORAC-value“, and claim that “the especially high amount of anti-oxidants in moringa protects against cell damage”. The determination of the so-called ORAC-value (Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity) involves an "in-vitro-method“ for determining the total anti-oxidative potential – it is simply a procedure carried out in a test tube.
This value is nutritionally irrelevant.
The advertisement gives the impression that the level of the ORAC-value has a direct (positive) correlation with the anti-oxidative effect in the human body. However, there is no scientifically-based evidence for this connection.
Further general information on anti-oxidants vis-à-vis the ORAC-value (available in German language only) can be found here .
References:
[1] Foidl, N., Makkar, HPS, Becker K. (2001): The potential of Moringa oleifera for agricultural and industrial use. Dar Es Salam October 20th.November 2nd 2001
[2] Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO): Traditional crop of the month: Moringa (26.01.2017)
[3] Saini, R.K., Sivanesan I., Keum, Y.-S.: Phytochemicals of Moringa oleifera: a review of their nutritional, therapeutic and industrial significance. 3 Biotech. (2016) 6:203
[4] Bechtold, A.: Moringa: Sinn und Unsinn des „Superfoods“, Ernährungslehre & Praxis, Ernährungs-Umschau Nov. 2016
Further Links:
- https://www.ua-bw.de/pub/beitrag.asp?subid=1&Thema_ID=2&ID=2219&Pdf=No&lang=DE
- https://www.ernaehrungs-umschau.de/news/12-03-2015-lebensmitteltrends-was-sind-superfoods/
- http://www.oekotest.de/cgi/index.cgi?artnr=108600&bernr=04
- https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/nahrungsergaenzungsmittel-die-meisten-wirken-nicht
- https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/superfood
- https://www.verbraucherzentrale.de/Nahrungsergaenzung