Msida, Malta: More than two-thirds of commercially available hemp-derived CBD products are inaccurately labeled, according to data published in the journal Phytochemistry Letters.
A team of researchers affiliated with the University of Malta assessed the findings of 28 analytical studies evaluating the label integrity of unregulated CBD products. Of the 937 products evaluated, only 31 percent contained percentages of cannabidiol that were within ±10 percent of what was advertised on the products’ labels. Some products also tested positive for the presence of heavy metals, solvents, and synthetic cannabinoids.
“The evidence reviewed demonstrates persistent and substantial label inaccuracy in CBD consumer products across all major formulation types,” the study’s authors concluded. “Mislabeling, cannabinoid adulteration and chemical contamination remain widespread. … [These findings have] important implications for consumer safety, dosing reliability, and regulatory oversight.”
Survey data compiled by the National Consumers League reports that more than eight in ten US voters desire greater federal regulatory oversight over the labeling and marketing of commercially available CBD products.
Last fall, federal lawmakers passed legislation tightening federal restrictions on the production and sale of certain hemp-derived CBD products. Since then, President Trump has repeatedly called upon Congress to loosen those restrictions, which are set to take effect in November.
Full text of the study, “Label integrity of cannabidiol consumer products: A matrix-specific review of accuracy, contaminants, and regulatory gaps,” appears in Phytochemistry Letters.