Three Main Sources of Mushroom Adulteration

The increasing popularity for medicinal mushroom products is fueling a growing market. The global market for commercial products is estimated at $5 billion USD, and the industry is estimated to grow as much as 10% per year over the next five years.

Such demand creates opportunities for fraudulent products. Many medicinal species, such as Reishi and Chaga, can be very expensive, making them attractive targets for adulteration. The rise in online sales channels has made it easier to sell adulterated products directly to consumers.

Mushroom products can be adulterated in several ways, affecting their quality, safety, and nutritional value.  Here are three ways in which mushroom products can be contaminated or adulterated:

1. Substituting or Mixing Species

2. Additions and Adulterants

3. Mislabeling

Suppliers and consumers alike should consider what quality or authenticity testing is being provided to assure the identity and consistency of commercial mushroom products. Authenticity testing in laboratories can reveal key issues and can confirm or deny the value of the product.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) spectroscopy is an accurate and reliable testing method for mushrooms. NMR is a non-targeted analytical technique that is commonly used in chemistry and biology to determine the molecular structure and composition of a sample.

As a non-targeted analytical technique, for any sample, NMR can provide information such as:

Fight Adulteration! Learn more about the power of NMR and the testing services available at Purity-IQ.