Is what’s on the label really what’s in the bottle?
Trust is everything in the natural products industry. Consumers demand authenticity, regulators expect compliance and companies know that the smallest misstep can carry big costs. At the heart of it all is this one simple question: Is what’s on the label really what’s in the bottle?
An accurate answer requires the right tools.
Why Identification Matters
The challenge is real: Many botanicals look alike, share similar chemical profiles, are highly processed, or are vulnerable to adulteration. Traditional assays such as microscopy, macroscopy and chemical testing provide important information, but each has its limitations.
Morphological analysis often fails once a material is ground into powder. Chemistry-based methods may confuse two species with overlapping compound profiles, or miss hidden adulterants masked by complementary signatures.
DNA testing addresses these blind spots. By targeting stable, discrete regions of the genome, DNA analysis reveals species identity with unmatched accuracy—even in processed, blended, or complex products.
DNA cannot be masked, or hidden by environmental conditions or formulation. It provides definitive answers to the question of “are these the ingredients I think they are?”
The Top 75 Botanicals- Both Plants and Fungi- and Common Adulterants
LeafWorks has now expanded itsDNA-based testing services to cover the top 75 herbs and fungi most widely used in natural products and foods, as well as their most common adulterants. This curated testing portfolio includes everything from globally traded botanicals like turmeric and ginseng to functional mushrooms such as maitake and porcini—plus adulterants often used to dilute or replace them, such as rice, and other grains.
This dual coverage matters. It’s not enough to verify what should be there; responsible brands also need to detect what shouldn’t. That’s why LeafWorks offers two complementary testing formats:
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LeafWorks® Botanical DNA ID Tests — Confirms whether a sample contains the species you expect, answering the question, “Is this the ingredient I think it is?”
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LeafWorks® Adulteration DNA ID Testing — Detects common adulterants and substitutions, ensuring full product integrity. Species specific adulterants can be added too: We have an extensive DNA Database for special requests.
Together, these tests give sourcing managers, quality teams, and product developers a scalable, science-backed way to authenticate ingredients at every step of the supply chain.
Built on Scientific Rigor
LeafWorks’ approach goes beyond simply applying DNA testing. It’s about building the most robust, validated system for botanical identification in the industry.
Each test is powered by theLeafWorks DNA Database, a proprietary resource of thousands of authenticated Botanical Reference Materials (BRMs) and Certified Reference Materials (CRMs), delivering unmatched precision in species identification.
But reference data is only part of the picture. LeafWorks also appliesstate-of-the-art bioinformatics to target species-specific regions of the genome—avoiding the pitfalls of universal DNA markers, which can produce false positives or negatives.
This focus on unique markers ensures accuracy, precision, and reproducibility across thousands of samples. Every method is validated to meet regulatory requirements such as21 CFR Part 111, ensuring defensible results for audits and compliance.
Why This Matters Now
Adulteration is common in the global botanical trade, whether intentional (economically motivated) or accidental (a byproduct of complex supply chains). For companies, the risks include regulatory penalties, costly recalls and reputational harm. For consumers, it can mean products that don’t deliver—or worse, unsafe exposures.
LeafWorks’ expanded testing provides actionable data that helps companies:
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Verify ingredient identity with confidence
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Safeguard against adulteration and substitution
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Support quality assurance and quality control workflows
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Develop products backed by scientific rigor
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Purchase large global shipments with certainty
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Meet label claims and regulatory requirements
Raising the Bar for Transparency in the Natural Products Sector
For formulators, this expanded ingredient testing means greater confidence that labels match sourcing expectations. For quality-assurance and quality-control teams, it adds a robust defense against recalls. For consumers, it builds trust that a brand’s products are authentic and safe.
LeafWorks’ Botanical ID Testing is a new service setting a new standard. By pairing deep genomic science with the industry’s most comprehensive reference database, LeafWorks is delivering precision, integrity, and transparency to an industry that needs it now more than ever.
Because in a marketplace where authenticity is everything,scientific rigor is the strongest safeguard.
Interested in other LeafWorks services? How about LeafWorks’ development of qPCR tests for top functional mushrooms? Check it out and let us know how we can help you meet your testing goals.
