WHITE PLAINS, N.Y.Echinacea supplements were the subject of the latest product review from ConsumerLab.com, finding no problems with any contaminationmicrobial, pesticide or heavy metalin the 16 products tested. The company noted four products lacked sufficient information to determine the amount of Echinacea they contained, and added there was great variation in the quantities of the herb present in products, ranging from 25 mg to more than 1,600 mg Echinacea extract, up to 3,600 mg of Echinacea dried herb powder.

ConsumerLab includes the names of companies involved in the reviews in its general news releases, but doesnt indicate which ones passed or failed testing, nor the levels of active ingredients in the products. However, the reports with complete findings are available for purchase from ConsumerLab.

The report on Echinacea supplements provides findings for nine supplements randomly selected for testing, as well as seven additional products that passed the same testing under ConsumerLab.coms Voluntary Certification Program, whereby companies can pay to have their products tested by ConsumerLab, and two supplements similar to those that passed testing. It also includes information about the clinical research behind different Echinacea species, including plant parts used and dosages, as well as possible side effects.