Aldi and
Monde Nissin Pledge to Regularly Test Oregano Spice Products after ACCC Investigation
Shows Substantial Adulteration with Olive Leaf
Based on results from a study showing adulteration of
oregano (Origanum vulgare ssp. hirtum, or Origanum onites,
Lamiaceae) products sold by retailers in the UK,1 the Australian consumer advocate group CHOICE verified
the authenticity of a number of spice products labeled to contain oregano in
Australia. In fall of 2015, CHOICE had 12
commercial oregano products, representing more than 80% of Australia’s
brand share value in the herb and spice product category, analyzed for authenticity by Fourier-transform
infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy and subsequent statistical testing. The results
gave evidence that seven of these products contained less than 50% oregano and
were adulterated with olive (Olea europaea,
Oleaceae) leaves or sumac (Rhus spp., Anacardiaceae) leaves.2
The consumer advocate group referred the issue to the Australian
Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC). Based on the complaint, ACCC initiated
its own investigation into a number of oregano brands, and found that Aldi’s
Stonemill oregano (manufactured by Aldi Foods
Pty Ltd), the Menora brand of oregano (manufactured by Monde Nissin [Australia] Pty Ltd), and products sold
as “G Fresh Oregano Leaves 'Mediterranean',” “Master of Spices Oregano Leaves,”
and “Spice & Co. Oregano Leaves” were mislabeled since they contained
undeclared materials other than oregano leaves.3
Based on the results, Aldi and Monde Nissin
agreed to verify annually through laboratory testing that one sample of their
oregano products contains no adulterants; to implement a random sample testing
regimen for herb or spice products other than oregano; and to retain the test
results and — on request — share a copy with the ACCC.4,5 The ACCC also
came to agreements with the three smaller suppliers to cease sales of
adulterated oregano products, and to initiate a program to ensure that future
products on the market will contain only the labeled material.3,6
Comment: The results of this investigation are consistent
with findings of oregano adulteration
obtained by a research group from Northern Ireland.1 In both cases, FT-IR spectroscopy was used to determine the
authenticity of the materials (although the group from Northern Ireland used
high-performance liquid chromatography with mass spectrometric detection
[HPLC-MS] as a confirmatory method), and the most commonly used adulterant was
identified as olive leaf. None of the analyzed products included an herbal
dietary supplement, but based on these data, manufacturers of any products
containing oregano should have appropriate measures in place to ensure the
authenticity of this ingredient.
References
1. Black C, Haughey SA, Chevallier OP, Galvin-King P, Elliott CT. A
comprehensive strategy to detect the fraudulent adulteration of herbs: The
oregano approach. Food Chem. 2016;210:551-557.
2.
CHOICE Staff. Does
your spice rack contain fake oregano? CHOICE website. Available at: https://www.choice.com.au/food-and-drink/groceries/herbs-and-spices/articles/oregano-fraud. Published April 5, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2016.
3.
ACCC Acts on ‘Oregano’
Misrepresentations [press release number MR 210/16]. Canberra, ACT, Australia:
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC); November 9, 2016. Available
at: https://www.accc.gov.au/media-release/accc-acts-on-%E2%80%98oregano%E2%80%99-misrepresentations. Accessed December 12, 2016.
4.
Undertaking to the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by ALDI Foods Pty
Limited. ACCC website. Available at: http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1199561. Published November 8, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2016.
5.
Undertaking to the
Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) by Monde Nissin
(Australia) Pty Ltd trading as Menora Foods. ACCC website. Available at: http://registers.accc.gov.au/content/index.phtml/itemId/1199755. Published November 8, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2016.
6.
Kollmorgen A. ACCC
takes action on fake oregano. CHOICE website. Available at: https://www.choice.com.au/food-and-drink/groceries/herbs-and-spices/articles/accc-takes-action-on-fake-oregano. Published November 9, 2016. Accessed December 12, 2016.
