Choosing Essential Oils: Understanding Label Claims, Grades & Purity Standards

Transcription

1 Choosing Essential Oils: Understanding Label Claims, Grades & Purity Standards 1

2 Neil Edward Levin, CCN, DANLA NOW Senior Nutrition Education Manager - Board-Certified Clinical Nutritionist - Diplomate in Advanced Nutritional Laboratory Assessment American Herbal Products Association Communications Committee American Nutrition Association Past President, Director, Corporate Secretary, Program Chair Council for Responsible Nutrition Government Relations Committee International & American Associations of Clinical Nutritionists Clinical Nutrition Certification Board Director, Scientific Council Team Leader Mid-American Health Org. (Natural Products Assn/Midwest region) Director, Corporate Secretary, Advocacy Chair The Non-GMO Project Technical Advisor (Emeritus) 2

3 Defining Essential Oils Concentrated, volatile oils that are extracted from the flowers, leaves, roots, or peels of plants 3

4 Physical Mechanics of Smell 4

5 Marketing and Labeling of Essential Oils in Canada Claims and directions for use are variable and dictate the regulatory category for an essential oil Possible to market and label in different ways consumer product diffusion or airborne mist no specific therapeutic use claims allowed state of mind/being only natural health product specified therapeutic use traditional aromatherapy claims inhalation or skin application eight approved aromatherapy claims traditional or non-traditional meeting burden of proof - ingestion or skin application (e.g. peppermint oil for digestion) food product dependent ingestion safe to consume at any quantity typically diluted with alcohol (e.g. vanilla extract) cosmetic generally for essential oils pre-mixed with carrier oils perfuming the skin (e.g. sandalwood oil perfume or EO scented bath oils) 5

6 Marketing and Labelling of Essential Oils in Canada There is no labelling standard to accommodate multiple uses between regulatory classes (oral hygiene, topical, internal (swallowing), or scent) e.g. cannot legally sell a food and make NHP claims on the label and in advertising or sell a consumer product with directions for cosmetic (skin) application There is no correlation to quality based on which regulatory category is used (i.e. no therapeutic grade vs cosmetic grade) all have GMP standards and/or require premarket authorization all require label accuracy including verifiable claims (identity, purity, list of ingredients, etc.) Ultimately it is the manufacturer and not the regulations that determine the quality of the product NOW markets our oils as consumer products This gives us the best option to highlight the qualities of each scent while maintaining consistency between product labels 6

7 Marketing and Labelling of Essential Oils in Canada Peppermint oil labeled as a Consumer Product Consumer products - refer to a wide array of manufactured goods purchased primarily for personal, family and/or household purposes air fresheners - used in homes to emit fragrance; include sprays, candles, oils, gels, beads, and plug-ins No limits on state of mind/being claims In keeping with the original principles of aromatherapy Applies to every product Highlights fragrance details & qualities of each oil No approval option for internal use Consistency between product labels and claims 7

8 Consumer Product Label 8

9 Marketing and Labelling of Essential Oils in Canada Peppermint oil labeled as an Aromatherapy NHP Used in aromatherapy as a nervine/calmative To help relieve joint/muscle pain associated with sprain/strain/rheumatoid arthritis As a carminative/antispasmodic for symptomatic relief of digestive discomfort and to help relieve colds/cough Limited to eight approved claims with many oils sharing the same claim 9

10 NHP Approval Claims Eight approved claims Used in aromatherapy for symptomatic relief of acne/boils. to relieve minor skin irritation/cuts/bruises/burns. for symptomatic relief of eczema/dermatitis. as a nervine/calmative. to help relieve joint/muscle pain associated with sprain/strain/rheumatoid arthritis. to help relieve headache. as a carminative/antispasmodic for symptomatic relief of digestive discomfort. to help relieve colds/cough No approval for internal use Inhalation or topical use only Not all essential oils can get approval 10

11 Aromatherapy NHP Label 11

12 Marketing and Labelling of Essential Oils in Canada Peppermint oil labelled as a NHP - traditional use Traditionally used in Herbal Medicine to aid digestion (stomachic) To help relieve flatulent dyspepsia(carminative) To help relieve nausea and vomiting Approved for internal use Unaware of any essential oils meeting the burden of proof for nontraditional therapeutic claims. 12

13 Other NHP Label Traditional Use 13

14 Our Labels 2018: Our 50 th Anniversary We re Making Continual improvements 14 14

15 NOW Essential Oils 15

16 We carry 9 organic oils: Citronella, Eucalyptus, Lemon, Lavender, Lemongrass, Orange, Peppermint, Rosemary, Tea Tree 16

17 Extraction Methods Steam Distilled Plants and flowers Cold Pressed Mainly citrus oils Solvent Extraction More expensive oils (Jasmine & Rose Absolute), lower yield of oil produced Solvent actively reclaimed/removed CO2 Extraction Vanilla Concentrate, comes from a solid resin Check the side panel of the bottle for extraction method of each oil 17

18 Steam Distillation Process 18

19 19

20 Essential Oil Details Non-GMO Project verified We have a larger Size (1 fl. oz. / 30 ml) that is more affordable We use all warnings on all EO labels Board-certified Toxicologist reviews the safety of all aspects of EO usage NOT FOR INTERNAL USE Food Grade statements are highly restricted Our oils are all GLPC/GC and FTIR tested to assure quality 20

21 Industry Specification Standards Our Quality Control department adheres to specifications used by the essential oils and flavour industry as published in The Essential Oils by Ernest Guenther, as well as Fenaroli's Handbook of Flavor Ingredients by George A. Burdock. These texts, as well as other sources of scientific information, detail specific physical and chemical properties of each particular oil to assure purity. These are the same standards used by major European distillers that are the primary suppliers of essential oils to our industry. 21

22 How Our Oils Are Tested Sensory (taste, odor, colour, and appearance) Specific gravity Refractive index Optical rotation Flash point Infrared absorption (per Food Chemicals Codex) Ultraviolet/visible spectroscopy (pigment detection) Solubility Heavy metals (cold pressed oils) Active chemical components & marker compounds 22

23 ISO & AFNOR Standards Standardization for the Perfume Industry The International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and AFNOR (Association Française de Normalisation) do not set standards for differentiating the quality of essential oils; rather they provide specifications for ʻindustries to use as a guide to essential oil compositions so that new batches could be utilized with minimum alteration in flavor or fragrance to the finished products.ʼ The Quality of Essential Oils by Jade Shutes, BA, Dipl. AT., Cert. Herbalist 23

24 Therapeutic Grade Oils Therapeutic Grade: A Potentially Misleading Claim No governmental agency or generally accepted organization "grades" or "certifies" essential oils as "therapeutic grade," "medicinal grade," or "aromatherapy grade There is no formally approved grading standard used consistently throughout the essential oil industry. Wendy Robbins (Cert. Aroma ACHS), Founder of AromaWeb, is a Professional Level Member of the Alliance of International Aromatherapists and the National Association for Holistic Aromatherapy. 24

25 Therapeutic Grade Oils Therapeutic Grade: A Potentially Misleading Claim According to Burfield and Kirkham ( ), many aromatherapists have unfortunately become unwitting victims of a marketing ploy by essential oil traders that advertise approved essential oils of therapeutic gradeʼ. Let us be quite clear on this there is no such thing as a therapeutic gradeʼ essential oil, and no quality standards for the authentication of essential oils specifically exist in aromatherapy. The Quality of Essential Oils by Jade Shutes, BA, Dipl. AT., Cert. Herbalist 25

26 Test Methods ORGANOLEPTIC (SENSORY) GAS CHROMATOGRAPHY (GC or GLPC) Gas-Liquid Partition Chromatography separates an essential oil into its major components for analysis Resulting fingerprints allow our chemists to positively verify oil identity FOURIER TRANSFORM INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY (FTIR) A beam of infrared light is passed through a sample to determine the frequency at which energy is absorbed Chemical fingerprint confirms identity and purity of essential oils REFRACTIVE INDEX Measures speed and wavelength light passes through a sample to acceptable range SPECIFIC GRAVITY Compares the density of a material to a reference sample to verify identity 26

27 QC Testing 27

28 Sourcing & Natural Variation Boutique Farms vs. Blended Sources Batch-to-batch variation vs. consistent components & aroma Vintage variations: changing environmental factors Cultivars & Genotypes spp refers to various subspecies (i.e. Lavandula officinalis subspecies) Synonyms for L officinalis are L angustifolia (the more modern term), L spica (or spicata), Lavandula stoechas, and L vera. Single Cultivars vs. Blending Cultivars French farmers commonly blend 2 subspecies of L angustifolia Wildcrafted or Organic Claims Claims w/o certifications are not verifiable Third-Party Testing Our oils are tested by both the distiller and by NOW s own chemists 28

29 2015 NOW Health Group, Inc

30 GLPC Comparison of Eucalyptus NOW, Wyndmere & Aura Cacia Same Eucalyptus species Only slight differences due to natural variations 30

31 Essential Oil GLPC Overlay FID1 A, (29MAY07\005F0601.D) FID1 A, (29MAY07\004F1301.D) FID1 A, (29MAY07\002F1101.D) 31

32 Pesticides? There is substantial literature on pesticide residues in essential oils. Because many of the botanicals used for essential oil production are very aromatic and weedy, they tend to naturally repel insects; many are even companion plants that are planted with crops for the purpose of repelling insects. Only pesticide residues that are hydrophilic, thermostable, and volatile can be carried over into an essential oil during distillation. Few pesticides possess these characteristics, so pesticide levels found in distilled oils are typically insignificant. In one large European database, out of 73,541 analytical tests on distilled essential oils, only 0.55% had positive results for pesticide detection % of the samples had no detectable pesticides! Based on a paper given to the IFEAT conference in Rome, 2014, by Dr Jasmin Peschke, of Weleda AG, Switzerland International Trade Centre s Market Insider: Essential Oils & Oleoresins October

33 Organic vs. Conventional EOs Since EOs are virtually free of pesticides, safety is not an issue Only the growing method is different; both types of oil meet the same standards Food grade oils are not differentiated by whether or not they re organic Our organic oils are audited and certified by QAI NOW is annually audited by QAI All EOs are non-gmo 33

34 Using Essential Oils Safely Keep oils tightly closed and out of the reach of children and pets Keep essential oils away from eyes, ears and mucous membranes Do not use undiluted oils on your skin, as they can irritate or cause an adverse reaction Whether for skin care or simple household cleaning, always patch test essential oils and recipes before use. Do not use if any redness or irritation occurs Some essential oils (especially citrus oils can cause photosensitivity, increasing the risk of sunburn) If pregnant, nursing, or taking medication, please consult a health care practitioner before using to ascertain any contraindications 34

35 Using Essential Oils Safely Generally Recognized As Safe for food use (GRAS) Whilst there are many essential oils that do possess GRAS status, like mint and neroli, this designation can in no way be indicative of therapeutic efficacy or risk-free intake via the oral route. Essential oils are used as flavour ingredients in a wide range of products and their inclusion in the GRAS category is dependent, in part, upon their defined safe maximum concentration limits in edible goods. These concentrations are generally low, as they allow for the repeated ingestion of foodstuffs on a daily basis, and thus guard against cumulative dosing and potential toxicity. The Quality of Essential Oils by Jade Shutes, BA, Dipl. AT., Cert. Herbalist 35

36 Using Essential Oils Safely Internal Use Only certain specific essential oils can be food grade, as some plant sources are not foods or contain oral toxins Organic vs. conventional is not a factor Purity or grade is not a factor Health Canada allows only limited claims Re: internal use The Quality of Essential Oils by Jade Shutes, BA, Dipl. AT., Cert. Herbalist 36

37 Using Essential Oils Safely Essential Oils that should NEVER be taken internally (ingested): Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea) Atlas Cedarwood (Cedrus atlantica) Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana) Cypress (Cupressus sempervirens) Frankincense (Boswellia carterii) Eucalyptus Radiata (Eucalyptus radiata) Pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium) Pine Needle (Abies sibirica, Pinus sylvestris) Wintergreen Oil (Gaultheria procumbens) 37

38 Using Essential Oils Safely Essential Oils that could qualify as GRAS: Basil (Ocimum basilicum) Chamomile, Roman (Anthemus nobilis) Cinnamon Bark (Cinnamomum zeylanicum) Cinnamon, Cassia (Cinnamomum cassia) Clary Sage (Salvia sclarea) Geranium (Pelargonium graveolens) Ginger (Zingiber officinale) Grapefruit (Citrus paradisi) Hyssop (Hyssopus officinalis) Juniper (Juniperus communis) 38

39 Using Essential Oils Safely Essential Oils that could qualify as GRAS: Lemon (Citrus limon) Lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus) Lime (Citrus aurantifolia) Nutmeg (Myristica fragrans) Orange (Citrus sinensis) Oregano (Origanum vulgare) Peppermint (Mentha piperita) Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) Sage (Salvia officinalis) Spearmint (Mentha spicata) Tangerine (Citrus reticulata) Ylang Ylang (Cananga odorata) 39

40 Blending Using Essential Oils Oils Safely Use 1 oz. / 30ml of a skin care oil: 6-18 drops SUGGESTED of essential BLENDING oils RATIOS 600 drops 6 = 1 = oz. 1% (30 Solution ml) In cases 12 drops where = an 2% EO Solution is sold as a cosmetic oil use 6-18 drops 18 drops of essential = 3% Solution oils in 1 oz. (30 ml) of a skin care oil Fill 1 oz. bottle ½ way with a carrier oil then 6 drops = 1% Solution follow recipes drop ratio, and fill to top 12 drops = 2% Solution 18 drops = 3% Solution Do not exceed 18 drops per 1 oz. Always Fill 1 oz. spot-test bottle ½ way before with use a carrier and refer oil then to follow label guidelines recipes drop and ratio, warnings and fill to top Do not exceed 18 drops per 1 oz. Always refer to label guidelines and warnings For recipe ideas visit nowfoods.com/nowsolutions For recipe ideas visit 40

41 Using Essential Oils Safely: Pets Experts do not recommend that concentrated essential oils be intentionally given to an animal for ingestion or applied topically unless directed for a specific condition under the direction of a veterinarian. In general, diffusion around dogs is acceptable as long as the necessary steps are taken to ensure exposure is minimized. In general, due to insufficient information concerning the use of essential oils in cats, we cannot recommend their general use for direct inhalation through diffusion. Limonene and linalool are organic chemicals commonly found in citrusbased essential oil products. These constituents have been associated with severe dermatitis in some animals, especially cats. Birds are ultra sensitive; avoid excessive exposures! 41

42 42

43 Ultrasonic Diffusers Diffusing Pure Essential Oils Rotating LED Lights Cool Vapour No Heat Involved / No Risk of Burns Automatically Shuts Off Easy to Clean Run Life of 5,000+ Hours BPA-Free 1 Year Warranty Avoid carrier oils GreenAir Toll Free Customer Service

44 Ultrasonic Diffusers Rotating LED ights Cool Vapour No Heat Involved / No Risk of Burns Automatically Shuts Off Easy to Clean Run Life of 5,000+ Hours BPA-Free 1 Year Warranty Avoid carrier oils GreenAir Toll Free Customer Service

45 45

46 How Do We Sell For Less? We aim for quality at low cost But we don t skip on material quality or testing Best equipped and staffed labs in the industry Economies of scale Largest purchaser of lavender EO on Earth Good relationship with prominent distillers We buy in bulk and pass on the savings to you We test and package our oils; no middleman profiting Less Marketing Expenses Limited ad buys, no fancy store displays, and no prepackaged samples More Reasonable Mark-Ups We re a value brand, not taking common perfume industry margins for our Essential Oils 46

47 Are NOW s EOs Synthetic or Diluted? NO! All NOW Essential Oils are naturally derived and undiluted EOs are used in some of our blends containing carrier oils, which are clearly labeled as blends (i.e. 7.5%, 15%) with the carrier prominently named All of our oils labeled 100% Pure are tested for purity and are undiluted We sell two Absolute oils (Rose and Jasmine), which are labeled distinctly from our EOs We sell one perfume oil blend ( Jasmine Fragrance ), which is not labeled as a pure EO 47

48 New Quality Certification NOW Solutions: UL ISO 22716:2007 Certified All NOW personal care products are now certified for production and quality control by Underwriters Laboratories This is an internationally recognized GMP standard with specific requirements for production, control, storage, and shipment of cosmetic products The standard is expected to protect consumers by providing manufacturers with guidelines for delivering safe products 48

49 Product Information Group

50 The NOW Foods Family Shares Your Values 50

51 Thank You! For more information please visit our website: Facebook: nowfoodsofficial * Instagram: nowfoodsofficial 52