The warning comes after the Oregon-based analytical testing laboratory was alerted that reports it provided to a client for the analysis of phytochemical markers and heavy metals in psychoactive Amanita muscaria tinctures and mushroom caps had been altered, reproduced, and distributed by several companies selling amanita gummies and tinctures.
In some instances, a name was inserted in the reports other than the name of Flora’s client, and in other instances the authentic Flora Research Laboratories quantitative numbers were replaced with fictitious numbers.
“We take counterfeiting of our reports very seriously and have referred this matter to our legal counsel and the appropriate authorities for further action. Reports issued by our laboratory can only be reproduced in their entirety and unaltered subject to our standard terms and conditions,” said James Kababick, FLR’s Director. “While FRL does not disclose client confidential information, we can confirm whether or not a given report is legitimate of not.”
Quick resolution
Speaking with NutraIngredients-USA, Kababick noted that the company decided to move quickly and aggressively on the issue because some companies were representing that Flora had tested their products, when no such testing had occurred, and if one of those products proved to be deleterious, then that would seriously harm Flora’s reputation.
Since the company’s legal counsel became involved, the problem is being resolved quite quickly, said Kababick.
An improving landscape?
While The practice of counterfeiting lab reports is not new with labs such as Flora and California-based Alkemist Labs discussing the issue for several years.
Kababick said that efforts to raise awareness around the issue have led to general improvements, while Elan Sudberg, Alkemist Labs’ CEO, told us that “dry reporting”, as he calls it, has “not been a huge issue as of late for us.
“Awareness and education are the current tools we have deployed,” added Sudberg.