Radicle Perspectives:
Elevating the supplement industry through a series of virtual fireside chats with leaders, academics, and other influential catalysts.
Episode: Protecting Your Brand and Product Efficacy from Botanical Adulterants
In today’s rapidly growing and competitive market for botanical products and dietary supplements, maintaining the integrity and efficacy of your offerings is more crucial than ever. The global demand for natural health products has surged, driven by consumers seeking alternatives to synthetic medications and a growing interest in wellness and preventative health. However, this increased demand has also led to a significant rise in the incidence of botanical adulterants—substances that are fraudulently added to products to enhance their appearance, weight, or perceived value.
Tune in to another insightful episode of Radicle Perspectives as we welcome our esteemed guest Dr. Stefan Gafner, PhD, the Chief Science Officer of the American Botanical Council, as we discuss how to protect your brand and product efficacy from botanical adulterants.
Key Topics
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Define botanical adulterants, explore common types, and understand their sources and motivations for use.
Identify the potential risks adulterants pose to product efficacy, consumer health, regulatory liability and brand integrity.
Meet the Guest: Dr. Stefan Gafner
Stefan Gafner, PhD, is the Chief Science Officer of the American Botanical Council, an independent, nonprofit research and education organization. He is also Director of the Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program, (BAPP), a large-scale collaborative program to educate members of the herbal and dietary supplement industry about ingredient and product adulteration.
Prior to working for ABC, Gafner served as a Director of Analytical Chemistry in the R&D department of natural personal care products company Tom’s of Maine. Gafner received his degree in pharmacy at the School of Pharmacy, University of Berne, in Berne, Switzerland. He obtained a PhD in pharmaceutical sciences from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland and conducted postdoctoral research at the University of Illinois – Chicago in the College of Pharmacy’s Department of Medicinal Chemistry and Pharmacognosy.
Gafner is author and co-author of over 70 peer-reviewed scientific publications and holds 5 patents. He is a member of the advisory board of the Society for Medicinal Plant and Natural Product Research (GA) and of the editorial boards of the Journal of Ethnopharmacology and Planta Medica.
