Over 80% of Hemp-Derived CBD Products Are Inaccurately Labeled, Many Have No CBD, Johns Hopkins Study Finds
- The majority of hemp-derived CBD products tested, including haircare, cosmetics, and foods or drinks, were inaccurately labeled regarding their CBD content, even those claiming third-party verification.
- Only 12.7% of products accurately reflected their stated CBD amounts, with nearly half containing more CBD than advertised and over a third containing less; some products labeled as containing CBD had none at all.
- No significant difference in labeling accuracy was found between in-store and online purchases, nor between products claiming third-party testing and those that did not.
- Many products made unverified therapeutic claims, used misleading “health halo” language, and some contained detectable delta-9 THC, underscoring the need for better regulatory oversight.
A study published by Cannabis & Cannabinoid Research found that most hemp-derived CBD products sold as haircare items, cosmetics, and foods or drinks did not match what their labels claimed, including products that said they were verified by third-party testing. Researchers from the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine purchased 97 products marketed as containing CBD from retail stores in the Baltimore, Maryland as well as online, then measured cannabinoid concentrations using gas chromatography–mass spectrometry.
Among the 71 products that listed a specific total CBD amount (or where total CBD could be extrapolated), just 9 products (12.7%) were accurately labeled within ±10% of the stated CBD content. The rest were split between 35 products (49%) that contained more CBD than advertised and 27 products (38%) that contained less CBD than advertised. The researchers also reported that 10 overlabeled products contained no CBD at all.
The study found no meaningful difference in labeling accuracy between products purchased in-store versus online, and no difference between products that claimed external laboratory testing and those that did not. As the authors put it, “Most of the products included in this sample were inaccurately labeled for CBD content, including those claiming to have been tested by third party laboratories.”
The researchers also reviewed marketing language on labels and found that 40% of the products made a therapeutic claim, while 86% used “health halo effect” language such as “paraben-free” or “dye-free.” Most products (63%) did not include a disclaimer that the claims had not been evaluated by the FDA.
Although the products were purchased as hemp-derived items intended to contain ≤0.3% delta-9 THC, the researchers detected delta-9 THC in five products overall, including one cosmetic item and four food or drink products. The authors said the findings “highlight the need for proper regulatory oversight” to improve quality assurance and deter misleading health claims.