Test casts doubt on clinical benefits of Ginkgo leaf products with non-standardized extract
A Consumer Council test has revealed widespread non-compliance of a World Health Organisation (WHO) standard in the levels of active ingredients and allergen of Ginkgo biloba leaf products.
In the test it was found that none of the 14 samples could fully meet the specification of the standard (WHO Monographs on Selected Medicinal Plants: Folium Ginkgo) laid down for active ingredients and allergen.
It is essential that preparations of Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts are within the percentage range of WHO specification as otherwise they may not be able to deliver the intended clinical benefits.
These herbal preparations are very popular in Europe, USA and Japan. They are often marketed as health food to improve mental alertness.
According to the WHO, Ginkgo biloba leaf extracts have been used for symptomatic treatment of mild to moderate demential syndromes with symptoms such as memory deficit, disturbance in concentration, dizziness and headache.
Raw Ginkgo leaf contains only low concentration of active ingredients and very high level of an allergen.
Therefore, in order to deliver the clinical benefits, the extract from the leaf needs to be standardized - the active ingredients, namely, (1) Flavone Glycosides and (2) Terpene Lactones which includes (3) Ginkgolides and (4) Bilobalide, need to be extracted and standardized to a specific level and the allergens extracted and removed to below a specific amount.
According to scientific literature, the active ingredients of the extract act synergistically. Its efficacy depends not only on any one single active ingredient, but all active ingredients present in the specified proportions in a standardized extract.
The test found none of the 11 samples labelled with content of the extract, to contain all active ingredients fully satisfying the requirements of a standardized extract as specified by the WHO. It could not be determined if the other 3 samples without such labelling meets with the WHO requirements in the percentage of active ingredients.
The test does find one sample, on the basis of actual daily intake in accordance with the recommended maximum dosage on the product labelling, to deliver the WHO specified levels of all active ingredients.
The remainder samples (13) were unable to provide the users, even when they consume the maximum daily dosage as suggested, with the required levels of all active ingredients. 2 of the samples were found to contain extremely low amount of active ingredients - none of the ingredients came any close to the standardized extract specification - while the remaining 11 samples had active ingredients either below or in excess of the standardized extract.
There is insufficient scientific evidence to suggest whether excess active ingredients present in the dosage is hazardous or may deliver additional benefits.
The test also raised a safety concern over preparations with a high amount of the allergen, ginkgolic acid. Only one sample could meet the requirements on allergen limit, but still not on active ingredients content. The rest contained an amount of ginkgolic acid that was in excess of the amount one would consume a standardized extract by 16 to 733 times.
According to scientific literature, a handful of case studies have reported adverse effects in individuals taking Gingko biloba leaf products; however, there is no definitive medical evidence linking the products as a causal factor in these reports. Nonetheless, potentially, ginkgolic acid could cause side effects and manufacturers should reduce the content of ginkgolic acid in preparations to below the specified content.
The Consumer Council urges manufacturers to improve the formulation of their products and labelling (3 samples were without labelling of the content of Gingko biloba leaf extract per tablet) to provide more and better information. The Council also calls on the Government to tighten what regulation there is on these products which are marketed as "health food".
Test results in product recall and safety improvement on substandard household AC/AC converters
The Consumer Council has sounded a safety warning on AC/AC converters or transformers in common household use.
A test has found 15 models of this product in use in many households to fail to comply with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) safety standard.
The findings of the test, conducted by the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department, have resulted in positive remedial action taken by the suppliers of the products in question:
- 5 of the models, found to pose a higher risk of hazards to the users, are now being recalled by the suppliers. Consumers possessing these 5 models are strongly urged to cease using the products and contact the relevant agents or suppliers. (For more details on the recall, refer to P. 40-43 of this November issue of CHOICE).
- The suppliers of 8 other models, posing no imminent hazards, have ceased supplying the products and recalled the residual stocks from dealers and distributors.
- For the remaining 2 models with less serious defects, the suppliers have undertaken to improve the safety features of the products before supplying them to the market.
Highlights of the test revealed that amongst the 15 models, 5 had more serious degrees of safety problems than the others:
- Of the 5 samples, 3 failed in the temperature rise test with temperature exceeding the limit of safety standard that might lead to overheating under normal operation.
- And 2 had inadequate protection against accidental contact with the live parts, posing potential hazard of electric shock. They also failed in abnormal operation, posing hazard of overheating in case of short circuit.
The others failed mainly in the marking, components and current leakage tests.
"Certificate of Safety Compliance" will be a mandatory requirement effective 1 December 2000
The Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation requires all suppliers, including manufacturers, importers, distributors and retailers, to ensure that their household electrical products comply with the prescribed safety requirement set out in the Regulation.
They will need to ensure a "certificate of safety compliance" has been issued for the products before supply to the market. It would be an offence to supply a household electrical product without the certificate of safety compliance.
The certificate of safety compliance is a document to certify that a household electrical product meets the requirements of the Regulation, in the following forms:
- a certificate or test report issued by a "recognized certification body"; or
- a declaration of conformity issued by the "recognized manufacturer"; or
- a declaration of conformity issued by the product manufacturer.
As the certificate of safety compliance is not required to accompany with every household electrical product sold, suppliers are urged to present such certificates to the consumers in all possible ways. They may incorporate the certificate as part of the product brochure or user manual for illustration of safety compliance.
Household electrical products which are exempt from the Regulation include those supplied with second-hand premises, except where they are supplied with a new premises for first time occupation.
Test points the way to choosing the ideal suitcase that is both durable and easy-to-use
Imagine subjecting 13 models of suitcase to a series of stringent durability tests of pulling and dropping at considerable physical force.
In the end, 7 models withstood the severity of the test unscathed with no noticeable wear or damage, although the same could not be described of the remainder 6 models.
This, in a nutshell, is the conclusion reached in a Consumer Council test to evaluate the durability of suitcases (the hard-shell type).
The 13 samples were drawn from 9 models of the traditional horizontal type and 4 of the vertical type (trolley cases), with list prices from $950 to $1,885, net weights from 5.4 kg to 8.0 kg and measured capacities from 71.1 to 109.3litres.
In the durability test, all suitcase samples were loaded fully to simulate actual usage. Highlights of the results indicate:
- 7 models scored higher ranking than others with satisfactory performance in all tests; others were less satisfactory in one or more of the tests.
- 2 models with the handles on the longer side could not withstand the 2,000 cycles of up and down motion required in the test. 1 model had its side handle detached at a distance of 4,100 m when being pulled to travel a required distance of 5,000 m on concrete and brick paved surfaces. 3 models were found also to sustain different degrees of noticeable wear on the wheel surface.
- 4 models were detected with different levels of damage after being dropped from a height of 45 cm from 11 different orientations.
In addition to the durability test, the models were also evaluated for their ease of use through user trials. This users' assessment offers valuable guidance to the choice of suitcases that ideally should not only be durable but convenient to use while travelling aboard:
- Locks - as locks are often of a standard design and make, the ratings of the samples are quite similar.
- Internal features - 2 samples were rated slightly better than others due to availability of elastic adjustable clothes straps on each side of the suitcase and also of the water-proof bags separating the dry and wet clothing or items.
- Manoeuvrability - 2 models received relatively low scores because they are two-wheeled suitcases with a folding handle which could only be pulled and tilted at about 45 degrees above the ground. The trial users found this design a bit tiring since the arms must take some of the weight in pulling the suitcases around.
- Overall, 2 models of the horizontal type (4-wheeled) pulling with leash, and 2 of the vertical type (2-wheeled) pulling with extendable handles stood out in the ease of use ranking.
More tips in the choice of suitcase:
- Do not simply choose spacious and lightweight suitcases; the right size that suits your purpose is a much better choice bearing in mind a suitcase with large capacity is not necessary for short trips and difficult to carry especially if you have spine problems or a small figure.
- Suitcases with more than one form of manoeuvrability are preferable to alleviate fatigue in towing them.
Do not store valuable items in suitcases as keys from the same models and other models of the same brand could also open the key locks.
Advice on payment solutions to aid e-shoppers
A whole new array of "payment solutions" for e-shopping has made their debut.
How secure and reliable are these payment solutions in ensuring that the payment or, more importantly, the personal confidential information will not fall into the wrong hands?
A recent survey of the Consumer Council, based on 1,000 Internet users, has indicated that nearly 13% of them had the experience of purchasing through the net. The uncertainty over payment security was cited as one of the main factors in holding them back from e-shopping.
In this November issue of CHOICE is a comprehensive survey on some of the latest payment options available to e-shoppers - Virtual Credit Card, Multi-purpose Smart Card, Payment Aggregator, Prepaid e-Coupon, Online-Offline Solution - comparing them for their charges, computer accessories needed, security and verification procedures, application and how they handle the suspicious billing items.
Here are some useful advice for the e-shoppers:
- As many of these new payment solutions are PIN-based, they should take great care to protect the security and confidentiality of their Personal Identification Number. Avoid doing e-shopping on a computer in a public place, never choose a PIN that could easily be guessed, and change it on a regular basis.
- Virtual credit cards are used for e-shopping payment, do not divulge the number to other people.
- Always check the account statement to detect any items of payment that are not made by you. If that happens it could mean your virtual credit card (or rather the number) has been "stolen". Report such loss immediately to the card centre or payment service provider. And delete the e-certificate in your e-wallet.
- To enhance consumers' confidence, some payment services guarantee that their customers would not be held liable for payment items in their accounts due to theft. But some do not provide such guarantee. Nevertheless, consumers should not be lax with due care to security and confidentiality as gross negligence on the part of the cardholders might render the guarantee invalid.
Digital video camcorders on test
7 models of digital video camcorders were compared in a test for their picture quality, sound quality, autofocus accuracy, image stability, versatility and ease of use performance. The results were published in the November issue of CHOICE.
The test samples are with prices ranging from $10,900 to $18,150.
Digital Video (DV) is the latest format for camcorders. With DV technology, video images are digitized and hence allows the users to dub or edit the videos repeatedly without affecting the picture or sound quality. Most DV camcorders can be connected to computers for digital data transfer. Some latest models can also be used as digital cameras for taking still pictures and have the images stored in memory cards.