Abstract Detail

Economic Botany Section

Struwe, Lena [1], Joseph, Laurie [2].

Botanical Accuracy and Inaccuracy in Commercial Products – should botanists care?

Botanicals are present in our everyday life, from food and health and cosmetics products to graphic design and marketing. Plants and plant-derived products are literally everywhere. This talk will give insight into the problems of proper labeling of botanicals in products from numerous industries including personal care and herbal remedies. Botanical accuracy (defined as correct common and scientific names) for food products is usually of high quality. However, for other products mistakes, misunderstandings, and even dangerous misapplications of names are not uncommon. Plants are chemical factories providing human sustenance as well as medicines, scents, and toxins, and it is therefore important to know what exact plant is in what we use and buy. Inaccuracies in the listing of chemical ingredients are not accepted, so why do we appear to care less as a society about botanical inaccuracies? Included in the talk will be a discussion on the differences between cosmetic ingredient nomenclature (INCI) and botanical scientific nomenclature (ICN) with examples of inaccuracies from the current market. Removal of inaccuracies/ mislabeling of botanical ingredients in the current market will lead to decreased consumer health risks. Improved botanical education for the public is strongly needed and can start anywhere, in the hair care aisle, garden shop, or fancy interior design magazine.

Broader Impacts:

Related Links:
Botanical Accuracy blog

1 - Rutgers University, Ecology, Evolution, & Natural Resources, 59 Dudley Road, New Brunswick, NJ, 08901, USA
2 - Rutgers University, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Ernest Mario School of Pharmacy, 160 Frelinghuysen Rd, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA

Keywords:
economic botany
commercial products
Nomenclature
Ethnobotany
Accuracy
education
general public
media
plant identification
Phytochemistry
Medicinal Plants
advertising
art
human health.

Presentation Type: Oral Paper:Papers for Sections
Session: 1
Location: Napoleon Ballroom/Riverside Hilton
Date: Monday, July 29th, 2013
Time: 8:30 AM
Number: 1003
Abstract ID:542
Candidate for Awards:None