Honest nutraceuticals, cosmetics, therapies, and foods (NCTFs): standardization and safety of natural products

Abstract

With the increasing demand for natural products by the consumer in the marketplace it is necessary to see a proportional increase in behind-the-scenes science to ensure that the ideology of safety and honesty, that is justifiably expected by the wider public, is adequately satisfied. It is of essence to have a fair yet firm governance of nutraceuticals, cosmetics, therapies, and foods. However, with increasing sophistications in adulteration and “claim” loopholes that make it easier for adulterated or counterfeited natural products to be “fudged” to meet the pharmacopeia standards, governance protocols must utilize an “identification and authentication” approach that goes beyond the Pharmacopeia standards to help regulate and transparently communicate natural products in the commercial context. While it is becoming a rat race in keeping commercial natural products honest, modern technology can support authenticators and adequately defeat these challenges.

Keywords:

• Analytical
• authentication
• identification
• safety
• standardization
• toxicity

Acknowledgements

For technical advice, Guillermo Federico Padilla-Gonzalez, and for grammatical suggestions to improve clarity, Joseph Kilonzo Mwaya.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.