Culinology - September 2020 - 11

Consumers are interested,
but there is a lot to learn about the ingredient
he market forecast for products sold in the US featuring
cannabidiol (CBD) is remarkable. The Brightfield Group, a market
research company, projects US sales will grow from an estimated
$4.7 billion in 2020 to $16.8 billion in 2025. Food and beverage
manufacturers stand to gain, but for such a growth trajectory to occur
several things need to happen.
First, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) needs to clear a
path for the legal sale of food and beverages featuring the ingredient
to be sold in the US. The FDA does not currently recognize CBD as
a food or beverage ingredient nor as a dietary supplement. But the
agency is not stopping its use and some manufacturers are taking
their chances. In the US, as of Dec. 2018, hemp-derived cannabis
ingredients with less than 0.3% on a dry weight basis of THC may be
sold in commercial consumer products such as tinctures or extracts.
It's a confusing situation that has left risk-averse food and beverage
manufacturers on the outside looking in.
"The environment is actually not clear as to where we are and where
we should be with CBD," said Hilton H. Schlosberg, president, chief
operating officer and chief financial officer of the Monster Beverage
Corp., Corona, Calif, during an Aug. 5 conference call to discuss
second quarter financial results. "So, at this time, we have products
in development, but we - it's something that we're looking at from the
sidelines. And if things clear up and there are opportunities that will
present themselves, it's something that we definitely will look at going
forward, but not right now."
Second, the supply chain needs to add scale and achieve better
controls. A preliminary study by the FDA earlier this year found
many products containing CBD to be mislabeled, containing either
significantly more or less CBD than advertised.
"With the continued rapid evolution of the marketplace, there is
a strong need for consumer and developer education," said Keith
Woelfel, director of research and development for Caliper Foods,
Commerce City, Colo., a supplier of CBD ingredients and finished
products. "People are asking the right questions, but it's still very
difficult to separate the confident from the correct. For now, buyers
must continue to beware."
Mr. Woelfel emphasized the "devil is in the details" with the CBD
supply chain, particularly around quality and food safety metrics.
"Since the industry is still developing standards guidelines, required
COA (certificate of analysis) info on hemp distillates and CBD isolates
is yet to be harmonized or standardized," he said. "For COAs, pay
close attention to pesticides, residual solvents, cannabinoid profile,
microbiological, and heavy metals analyses.
"Look for a supplier who can provide you consistent data that
is comprehensive and has high standards for the minimum limit of
quantification for critical components, such as lead and other heavy
metals. We have seen COAs that leave out critical info around residual
solvents, which begs the question of why this info was left off the
COA. Unfortunately, your best bet in dealing with unknown suppliers is
to assume the worst."

T

by Keith Nunes
knunes@sosland.com

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Culinology - September 2020

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