Reviews and Information for SuperFoods

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Product Review

Whole, Ground, Milled, and Cracker Flaxseed Review

High Levels of Cadmium Found in Flaxseed Products — Testing Expanded

Product Review

Sunflower Seeds and Butters Review

High Levels of Toxin Found in Most Sunflower Seeds and Butters

Product Review

Black Seed Oil Review

Find Out Which Black Seed Oil Supplements Passed or Failed Our Tests. See Our Top Picks.

Product Review

Multivitamin and Multimineral Supplements Review

Best Multivitamins -- Caution with Gummies

Product Review

Fruits, Veggies, and Other Greens Supplements Review (Including Spirulina and Chlorella)

Avoid Lead in Greens, Problems with Pills, and Don't Give Up Eating Whole Foods.

Product Review

Vitamin C Supplements Review

Find the Best Vitamin C Supplements

Product Review

Pumpkin Seeds (Pepitas) Review

We Identified the Best Pumpkin Seeds

Product Review

Shelled Walnuts (Halves & Pieces)

See Our Top Picks for Walnuts

Product Review

Dark Chocolates, Cocoa & Cacao Powders, Nibs, and Supplements Review -- Sources of Flavanols

Is Your Chocolate or Cocoa Healthful or Toxic? Find the Best Dark Chocolate, Cocoa Powder and Cocoa Supplements Based On Our Tests.

Product Review

Ashwagandha Supplements Review

Find the Best Ashwagandha Supplement. Only 38% of Ashwagandha Products Pass Tests.

CL Answer

Sugar Substitutes: Pros, Cons, and Best Choices

Learn about the pros and cons of using sugar substitutes and artificial sweeteners in place of table sugar. Sweeteners discussed include stevia, monk fruit, and other high-intensity sweeteners; xylitol, erythritol, allulose and other low-calorie sweeteners; and agave syrup, black sugar, coconut sugar, honey, molasses and other sugar alternatives.

Recalls & Warnings

October 09, 2023

Orgain Protein Powder Recalled Due to Allergen Risk

On October 4, 2023, Orgain LLC issued a recall of four lots of the company’s Organic Protein Powder + Superfoods, Creamy Chocolate Fudge flavor protein powder after a co-manufacturer informed the company that the product contained undeclared sesame, which is now one of nine food ...

Product Review

Green Tea Review: Tea Bags, Loose Leaf Tea, Matcha Powders, and Supplements

Some green teas provide barely any green tea polyphenols, while some others are high strength. See the Test Results and Our Top Picks for Green Tea.

News Release

January 09, 2025

Not All Black Seed Oil Supplements Contain What They Claim, According to ConsumerLab

White Plains, NY, January 9, 2025 —  Black seed oil and extract supplements are promoted for controlling blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar, and arthritis pain, and more.

News Release

August 19, 2024

High Levels of Toxin Found In Most Sunflower Seeds & Butters

White Plains, NY, August 19, 2024 —  Sunflower seeds are rich in healthy, unsaturated oils and provide significant amounts of protein, fiber, and vitamins and minerals, but ConsumerLab's recent tests found high levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in most of the sunflower seeds and sunflower ...

News Release

May 23, 2024

ConsumerLab Finds Little Ashwagandha in Most Ashwagandha Supplements

White Plains, NY, May 23, 2024 — Ashwagandha is often promoted to decrease stress and anxiety, and improve sleep and cognition.

News Release

December 13, 2023

Best Vitamin C Supplements? ConsumerLab Selects Its Top Picks

White Plains, New York, December 13, 2023 —  It’s officially cold season in the U.S., a time when many people may turn to vitamin C supplements to help “boost” their immune system and ward off colds.

News Release

December 07, 2023

Best Shelled Walnuts According to ConsumerLab Tests

White Plains, New York, December 7, 2023 —  Fresh walnuts are rich in healthful, unsaturated fats, protein, fiber, and certain vitamins and minerals, but how fresh and pure are packaged, shelled walnuts? And does higher cost guarantee better quality or taste? To find out, ConsumerLab recently ...

Recalls & Warnings

June 12, 2023

Beware of Tara Flour

Tara flour may have caused more than 470 reported illness associated with the use of Daily Harvest’s French Lentil + Leek Crumbles, which was recalled in 2022 (FDA 2022).

News Release

November 02, 2023

Spirulina and “Greens” Supplement Tests Show Some Problems

White Plains, New York, November 2, 2023 —  ConsumerLab tests of spirulina, chlorella, and “greens” supplements revealed that tablets of three brands of spirulina failed to disintegrate within the allotted time, and several other products contained amounts of lead unsuitable for regular consumption ...

News Release

March 28, 2023

Expanded Flaxseed Testing by ConsumerLab Reveals More Cadmium Contamination – Several Quality Products Also Identified

White Plains, New York, March 28, 2023 — Due to concerning levels of cadmium ConsumerLab discovered in its tests of flaxseed products in January 2023, ConsumerLab recently purchased and tested seven additional whole and ground flaxseed products.

News Release

January 12, 2023

High Levels of Cadmium Found In Whole and Ground Flaxseed In ConsumerLab Tests

White Plains, New York, January 12, 2023 — Recent ConsumerLab tests revealed concerning levels of cadmium, a toxic heavy metal, in several popular flaxseed products which, otherwise, provided the listed amounts of healthy fats, fiber, and protein without microbial contamination.

News Release

December 16, 2022

Is Your Chocolate or Cocoa Healthful or Toxic? ConsumerLab Finds Major Differences Among Products.

White Plains, New York, December 16, 2022 — Although dark chocolate and cocoa can be good sources of potentially heart-healthy, antioxidant flavanols, they can also be contaminated with toxic heavy metals such as cadmium and lead – and consumers can’t judge products from their labels.

News Release

February 09, 2022

Caution With Spirulina Supplements: ConsumerLab Tests Reveal Lead Contamination, Quality Concerns

White Plains, New York, February 9, 2022 — Problems were discovered in three out of four spirulina supplements recently tested by ConsumerLab. One product was found to be contaminated with lead, and two other products, which were tablets, failed to disintegrate within the expected time.

News Release

January 31, 2019

Contamination Still an Issue in Some Greens and Whole Food Products, ConsumerLab Tests Reveal

White Plains, New York, January 31, 2019 — Powders and capsules containing ingredients such as wheat grass, spirulina, chlorella, and fruits and vegetables are a popular way to get vitamins, minerals and other plant-based nutrients, but past tests by ConsumerLab have found that these products ...

News Release

May 10, 2018

Big Differences Found Among Green Teas -- ConsumerLab Tests Identify Best Green Tea in Bags, Matcha, Supplements, and Bottles --

White Plains, New York, May 10, 2018 — The benefits of green tea use are associated with the presence of natural polyphenols known as catechins, such as EGCG.

News Release

August 08, 2016

ConsumerLab Finds Lead, Cadmium and Arsenic Contamination in Greens and Whole Foods Supplements

White Plains, New York, August 9, 2016 — Powders, pills and drinks made from ingredients like wheat grass, alfalfa, kelp, spirulina, chlorella, leafy vegetables and fruits are a popular choice for people looking to increase their intake of vitamins, minerals and other plant-based nutrients.

Recalls & Warnings

May 30, 2015

Seller of Omega-3, Probiotics & SuperFoods Warned for Manufacturing Violations, Drug Claims

On May 4, 2015, the FDA issued a warning letter to Dr. Dennis Black, LLC.