AOAC International certifies Herbalife’s Aloin Identification Method

Herbalife Ltd. (Herbalife) announced in a recent press release¹ that AOAC International officially recognized its identification method for aloins which are found in the aloe vera plant. Producers are mandated to “monitor naturally occurring compounds such as aloin A, aloin B, and aloe-emodin to meet safety guidelines.”¹ By receiving this certification, Herbalife has obtained the first AOAC-approved approach for finding aloins.

Herbalife uses the AOAC-certified identification method with every batch of their aloe-based products. This process does not diminish the natural benefits of aloe vera.

“This AOAC validation is an important milestone for Herbalife and the industry as a whole,” said Gary Swanson, senior vice president of global quality at Herbalife and lead author of the study. “We are proud to lead scientific innovation that enhances botanical ingredient safety, benefitting not only Herbalife products and our customers, but also advancing standards across the industry.”

While on its path to AOAC certification, the identification method was analyzed via a global multi-laboratory study which included eight independent laboratories.¹ The press release mentioned that each lab would inspect and test the “same set of six aloe vera samples”. This would involve both raw materials and finished products. Aloin A, aloin B, and aloe-emodin were analyzed through high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Once the study completed, it showed that the method could provide accurate measures and provide reliable results.¹

“This multi-laboratory validation study supported approval of an analytical method developed by Herbalife scientists as the AOAC 2016.09 Official Final Action Method,” said Katerina Mastovska, PhD, deputy executive director and chief science officer for AOAC International.¹ “AOAC official methods undergo rigorous scientific evaluation and are highly credible and globally accepted. As such, this method will help strengthen botanical quality and safety standards worldwide.”

Reference

1. Herbalife’s Aloin Identification Method for ALOE VERA officially recognized by AOAC International https://ir.herbalife.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/921/herbalifes-aloin-identification-method-for-aloe-vera (accessed Jun 11, 2025).