Fragrant Fakery: Sniffing Out the Truth in "Pure" Green Coffee Oil

Abstract

The natural extracts industry is plagued by imitation products that pose health risks, despite oversight by agencies such as the FDA and Health Canada. Coffee oils are a popular extract and are particularly susceptible to adulteration. The study compares the store-bought oil to a pure cold-pressed extract of green coffee beans using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry to find signs of adulteration. The store-bought oil exhibited markers of adulteration such as cyclamen aldehyde (cyclamal) and isopropyl myristate, while lacking several natural compounds such as palmitic acid and vitamin E found in cold-pressed green coffee oil (GCO). In comparison, through examination, the results show that an unregulated product, a “pre-workout” powder, is reported to contain methylhexanamine (DMAA) and its analogue DMHA, both of which were indeed identified, supporting the authenticity of the supplement. These results highlight the need for enforcement of regulations for consumer safety.