An in-depth study by Bloomberg has found that Aloe Vera products sold at CVS, Walmart, and Target contain none of the chemical markers indicating the presence of Aloe Vera. Additionally, the Aloe Vera carried at Walgreens contained only one of three chemical markers. These products all listed barbadensis leaf juice, another name for Aloe Vera, as either the first or second ingredient.
Bloomberg hired a laboratory, which wishes to remain anonymous, to evaluate if these brands contained the primary ingredient listed on the packaging. Using nuclear magnetic resonance, the lab discovered that Aloe Vera is not present in Walmart’s Equate Aloe After Sun Gel, Target’s Up & Up Aloe Vera Gel, CVS Aftersun Aloe Vera Moisturizing Gel, or Walgreens Alcohol Free Aloe Vera Body Gel.
Bloomberg stated that
“There’s no watchdog assuring that aloe products are what they say they are. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration doesn’t approve cosmetics before they’re sold and has never levied a fine for selling fake aloe. That means suppliers are on an honor system…”
The producer of the Aloe Vera products sold by Walmart, Target, and Walgreens as well as the supplier of the Aloe Vera products to CVS refuted the claims made by Bloomberg.
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Ashton DeLano is a junior at the George Washington University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Economics with minors in Business Administration and Computer Science. He intends to cover developments in the health and energy sectors and the impact of new technologies on the consumer.
