Be Careful of Acai Scams
Published:September 1st, 2010
Acai berry juices and supplements are just what we need for that extra energy boost, slow down the aging process, detoxify from all the free radicals we encounter every day, but as you see thousands of websites selling acai with free trial scams, you may never know if you are getting the real benefits. Here’s why.
Questionable Marketing Practices
Acai has soared in market demands not only in the US but across several countries, and this is the reason why a lot of dubious marketing campaigns has surrounded the trade. Acai has been included in the MLM and network marketing schemes along with Goji, Mangosteen, Aloe Vera and Noni. Given the lack of studies and testing methods, a lot of greedy sellers and manufacturers took the stretch to take Acai extracts, and converted these into hundreds of kilos and liters of diluted Acai drinks even with unsafe bottling to make outrageous profits. It is possible that what you taste in these drinks are additional citric acid and artificial flavors added so it won’t be too obvious that you are drinking a fake.
Acai is not the only fruit that has this kind of marketing scheme. There are exotic fruits being touted as “magic” fruits primarily due to the fact that it wasn’t known previously. Many new markets are on the search for the next magical fruit for the same purpose of reaping so much profits.
Bottling Process of Reconstituted Acai
To complicate the situation, most Acai drinks are exploited in such a way that all the health benefits of the fruit are being compromised. Sodium benzoate or benzoic acid are added to Acai juices to lengthen shelf life, but over time, it produces carcinogenic benzene in hot bottled preparations so it’s most likely that what you just bought and drank is the benzene. A reputable manufacturer would ensure that their bottling procedures will not create an environment that will allow benzene to form and contaminate – and include that in their labels even as the bottles are transported and sold.
So what‘s the best way to enjoy the benefits of Acai without being ripped off?
Go for freeze dried Acai. Freeze drying preserves all the healthy nutrients of Acai without you getting worried that you might be getting benzene contamination. It preserves the integrity of the Acai fruit even for long transportation and shelving periods.
Check the labels. If your freeze dried acai says it’s a CERTIFIED ORGANIC freeze dried product, and it says it has over 7000 ORAC units for a single serving, it’s a good buy.
If it doesn’t have the free trial scam and it doesn’t provide outrageous claims like “cure cancers” or “increase your penile length” or “improve your bedroom performance”, it surely is the Acai that you need.
