Aloe, Aloins and Hydroxyanthracene Derivatives

Hydroxyanthracene derivatives (HADs) are phenolic compounds found in aloe vera as well as in everyday vegetables such as iceberg lettuce, green beans, cabbages, etc. Among aloe vera HADs we find aloins, barbeloins, aloe-emodins, emodins, and dantrone. Aloin is a yellowish, bitter and very laxative compound. In the case of aloe vera, HADs are found close to the leaf bark, separated from the parenchyma (internal part of the plant). Foods that contain ingredients from aloe vera inner leaf gel do not pose any risk to health or safety, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).

On previous regulation

The Regulation (EC) No 1334/2008 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 December 2008, on flavourings and certain food ingredients with flavouring properties for use in and on foods and amending, set up HADs limit in aloe vera juices for oral consumption at 10 ppm.

In recent years, HADs have been highly questioned by the European Food Safety Agency (EFSA European Food Safety Agency), whose theoretical basis is focuses on one single study conducted in mice with very high doses of HADs.

On the new regulation

The European Commission has published a new Regulation (EU) 2021/468, applicable from April 8th 2021 which sets up the HADs limit at 1 ppm, in other words: aloins, aloe-emodinas, emodinas and dantrone. It will imply the prohibition of aloe vera laxative products, with high contents of HADs. However, this new regulation does not prohibit aloe vera at all, but rather regulates its use, raising food safety standards to the maximum.

ATALAYA BIO, always committed to quality

ATALAYA BIO organic and biodynamic aloe vera juice complies with the new European regulations and does not contain HADs (HADs < 1 ppm). The manufacturing process of ATALAYA BIO juice has always been from inner leaf gel.

How are the HADs removed from aloe vera?

The most common practice in the aloe vera industry is to filter previously crushed aloe vera leaves, using carbon filters. The filtration process retains HADs, but it also retains healthy active principles, such as enzymes, polysaccharides, mucilages (soluble natural fibers that improve digestive function), etc.

ATALAYA BIO juice manufacturing process is based on the principle of minimum denaturation of the product, therefore, avoids filtration in order to achieve the highest level of active ingredients from aloe vera, making the difference with other products on the market.

In brief:

• The new Regulation (EU) 2021/468 does not imply a ban on aloe vera juice.
• Aloe vera juices are now safer than ever.
• This regulation will result in an improvement in terms of quality, highlighting unfiltered high quality aloe vera juices, such as organic and biodynamic ATALAYA BIO juice.

If you bet on quality, choose unfiltered certified aloe vera juices. Find out our 100% natural unfiltered organic and biodynamic aloe vera juices on our shop.