April 18, 2013
Today the Center for Science in the Public Interest issued an alert urging consumers not to purchase or consume herbal supplements, teas, or energy drinks that contain Ginkgo biloba. Based on an important new study from the federal government’s National Toxicology Program, CSPI is downgrading its rating of ginkgo from “safe” to “avoid.”
In an important study published yesterday, government toxicologists found that Ginkgo biloba extract provided “clear evidence” that the ingredient caused liver cancer in mice and “some evidence” that ginkgo caused thyroid cancer in rats.
Pills or other products containing ginkgo are often marketed as having some benefit for memory or concentration, but the evidence for those claims has long been dubious. We know today that those pretend benefits are outweighed by the real risk of harm.
“We conclude that Ginkgo biloba extract caused cancers of the thyroid gland in male and female rats and male mice and cancers of the liver in male and female mice,” is how the government researchers described their findings.
For more information on ginkgo or other food additives, visit Chemical Cuisine on the web or download our free iPhone orAndroid Chemical Cuisine app.
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