Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority Finds Adulterated Chlorella

The Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority (CAFIA) published results from the analysis of 15 chlorella (Chlorella vulgaris, Chlorellaceae) powders sold in the Czech Republic. Two of the products, sold under the Health Link and Mega Pro Nutrition brands, respectively, contained substantial amounts of spirulina (Arthrospira maxima, or A. platensis, Oscillatoriaceae).¹ According to the CAFIA website, the Health Link product contained only about 20% of the declared amount of chlorella.²

Comment: The quality and authenticity of dietary supplements made from microalgae has not been the subject of much scientific investigation. Both chlorella and spirulina powders are known for a high protein content and as a rich source of chlorophyll. Other important compounds in chlorella include carotenoids and fatty acids. Since differences in the cultivation conditions of these microalgae have a substantial impact on the chemistry, identification methods based on algal metabolites may not be a straightforward way to identify these species. Identification of microalgae down to the species level is complicated, as explained by Görs et al.³ in their investigation of 19 chlorella products sold in Germany. According to the authors of the paper, “microscopic identification of C. vulgaris is difficult, due to lacking morphological features or morphological similarities among the coccoid green algal species … Besides, in algal biomass production, there is no consensus about the species or strains utilised. Most manufacturers have their own favourite production strains, whereas the species’ origin and strain identification often remain disputable.” Görs et al. used a genetic method to establish the identity in the commercial chlorella samples, and measured the ratio of chlorophyll a to pheophytin A, a degradation product of chlorophyll a, as an indicator of the freshness of the samples.³ CAFIA suggests that the addition of spirulina may be economically motivated, since it is an less costly ingredient than to chlorella.¹ Improved analytical methods for establishing the identity of microalgae are warranted.

References

1.     Kontrola doplňků stravy deklarujících řasu Chlorella [Inspection of food supplements containing the algae chlorella]. Brno, Czech Republic: Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority. Available at: http://www.potravinynapranyri.cz/InspProduct.aspx?scontrol=76&page=1&lang=en&design=default&archive=actual&listtype=tiles. Accessed February 23, 2018.

2.     CHLORELLA JAPAN prášek doplněk stravy [CHLORELLA JAPAN powdered supplement]. Category: Adulterated food. Brno, Czech Republic: Czech Agriculture and Food Inspection Authority. Available at: http://www.potravinynapranyri.cz/Detail.aspx?id=25476&lang=en&design=default&archive=actual&listtype=tiles. Accessed February 14, 2018.

3.     Görs M, Schumann R, Hepperle D, Karsten U. Quality analysis of commercial Chlorella products used as dietary supplements in human nutrition. J Appl Phycol. 2010;22(3):265-276.