Center for Food Safety States the CBD Providers Are Largely Noncompliant with Safety Requirements

• The Center for Food and Safety released a report to show how CBD companies are measuring up to their safety requirements.
• Many companies are starting to post their lab results for safety and efficacy online to improve transparency with consumers.

Cannabidiol, or CBD, has been advertised to the public as a natural alternative to many different medications, suggesting that it is able to help with a variety of ailments. While this substance may be fully capable of helping consumers with anxiety, depression, pain, and more, the ability to actually meet these needs is heavily reliant on how the product was made. Unfortunately, the Center for Food Safety recently released a report that states that hemp companies are violating major regulations by failing to test for pesticides and contaminants.

The CFS recently created a scorecard for hemp-based CBD, and the report revealed that approximately half of the companies that are presently releasing tinctures, lotions, and other CBD-infused products are not following protocols. In fact, this portion of companies received either a failing or near-failing grade. Considering that the requirements from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) are fairly minimal, independent companies need to prioritize these safety methods.

Rebecca Spector, the West Coast director of the CFS and the lead author in the report, said,

“We were surprised to find so many CBD companies failing to meet basic requirements to ensure their products are safe for people and the environment. It’s crucial that these companies test for pesticides including glyphosate, heavy metals, and other contaminants. Companies should support their claims by posting test results from independent labs on their websites and seeking independent certifications to ensure quality of their products.”

The CFS’s survey comprised of 40 companies that presently sell hemp-based CBD products, allowing them to evaluate product practices and policies involving:

1. Hemp farming and organic certification
2. Processing
3. Testing/auditing

Of the surveyed companies, six companies primarily create CBD remedies that are USDA Certified Organic. However, there’s only two companies that show proof that their products have no glyphosate, which is considered to be a possible carcinogen.

Apart from the companies that are not considered USDA Certified Organic, over half of the companies state that their ingredients are actually organic, but nothing in their verification supports that claim. Still, it is worth noting that 65% of the companies have already taken the first steps towards better transparency by making their lab results available on their website or somewhere online. Support for regenerative farming practices was reported by 72% of those companies.