Bilberry Laboratory Guidance Document Published by ABC-AHP-NCNPR Botanical Adulterants Program

The extensively peer-reviewed bilberry (Vaccinium myrtillus, Ericaceae) fruit extract Laboratory Guidance Document, containing a review of macroscopic, microscopic (both of limited use for the authentication of bilberry extracts), and chemical methods to authenticate bilberry extracts, was released in August 2015. In addition to the evaluation of the analytical methods with respect to the suitability to authenticate bilberry extracts and to detect adulteration, the document contains a short summary of the chemical composition of bilberry and its known adulterants, including, for example, extracts of highbush blueberry (V. corymbosum), lowbush blueberry (V. angustifolium), bog bilberry (V. uliginosum), lingonberry (V. vitis-idaea), sweet cherry (Prunus avium, Rosaceae), European elder (Sambucus nigra, Adoxaceae), black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa, Rosaceae), Chinese mulberry (Morus australis, Moraceae), black soybean (Glycine max, Fabaceae) hull, and black rice (Oryza sativa, Poaceae).

In a press release dated August 13, 2015, the Mechelen, Belgium-based distributor of specialty foods, Network Nutrition-IMCD, wrote, “The new Guidance document by ABC gives an enhanced set of tools to industry in the fight to stamp out botanical adulteration and substitution of bilberry.”