Exposing the Copycats: The Truth Behind Adulterated Blackcurrant Supplements

When it comes to genuine New Zealand blackcurrant supplements in the UK and beyond, only CurraNZ Original and Healthspan Elite CurraNZ deliver consistent efficacy and quality. 

Recent independent lab investigations have revealed alarming issues with copycat and lookalike supplements.

In May, it came to our attention that one CurraNZ look-alike product, sold in 30-capsule packs for £9.99, as part of a 50-product own-label Amazon range, was found to be adulterated - the lab called its blackcurrant content ‘unidentifiable’.

Another pre-workout product, certified by Informed-Sport and also sold on Amazon UK, boldly claimed 900mg of blackcurrant extract per serving. Trading off CurraNZ research, our laboratory analysis revealed that shockingly, it contained only 0.01% blackcurrant on analysis - negligible and wholly misleading. 

In 2022, CurraNZ’s own investigation into supposedly New Zealand-sourced blackcurrant anthocyanin extracts from manufacturers across Asia revealed variations of up to 437% in anthocyanin content, flagging serious concerns about adulteration.

 Additionally, an analysis of pesticide residues contained in some of these extracts were not permitted for use in New Zealand, confirming their fraudulent status and wholly different origin.

Out of five ‘New Zealand’ blackcurrant extract samples tested in our international market analysis, all but one failed to meet quality standards. 

Evidently, these extracts are now entering the supplement marketplace and misleading consumers, in what is a growing issue of serious blackcurrant food fraud in the supplement industry. 

This underlines how vital it is for consumers to choose supplements with verifiable ingredient provenance, traceability, batch testing, and regulatory compliance.

With poor harvests across the main blackcurrant growing markets in Europe, demand for New Zealand’s superior fruit - known globally for its superior quality and anthocyanin content - has surged, attracting unscrupulous practices. 

CurraNZ sets itself apart through its pharmaceutical-standard consistency, traceability requirements and the Enzans® trademark for our bioactive markers.

For real results, safety, and authenticity, look for CurraNZ Original or Healthspan Elite CurraNZ - the only New Zealand blackcurrant supplements you can truly trust.