The “Natural Preservative” Myth in Liposomal Supplements and Why It Finally Fell Apart
Over five years ago, we began extensive research into whether liposomal food supplements could be preserved using only plant-derived ingredients such as sea buckthorn extract and rosemary extract.
At the time, competitors were publicly claiming that this had already been achieved with UK brands marketing liposomal products as “naturally preserved” and free from preservatives such as potassium sorbate.
As a manufacturer committed to scientific integrity, we believed it was our responsibility to test this claim properly.
What followed was five years of formulation work, repeated quality-control failures, independent product testing, and ultimately a German court ruling that confirmed what our data had already shown: these claims were not true.
Our Research: Why We Wanted This to Work
The motivation was straightforward.
Many brands want to avoid certain preservatives for commercial or marketing reasons. Potassium sorbate is safe, legal, and widely used but it is increasingly framed as a “nasty” ingredient.
If a genuinely effective natural preservation system existed for aqueous liposomal formulations, it would represent a significant innovation.
We tested:
- Multiple concentrations of sea buckthorn extract
- Rosemary extract in different solvent systems
- Combinations with glycerine and alcohol-free carriers
- Variations in pH, lipid composition, and processing conditions
Every version failed microbiological stability testing.
This outcome was consistent, repeatable and unavoidable.
We therefore made a clear decision: we would not commercialise something that did not work, regardless of market pressure.
What We Found When We Tested Marketed Products
Because competitor products were already on the market and reportedly succeeding where we could not, we commissioned independent analysis of commercially available liposomal supplements marketed as:
“Naturally preserved”
“Preservative free”
“Free from potassium sorbate”
The results were unambiguous.
Despite not being declared on product labels, significant levels of potassium sorbate were detected.
In addition, sea buckthorn extract, repeatedly advertised as a “natural preservative,” does not have regulatory approval as a food preservative in the EU or UK.
Regulatory Action and Court Findings
The findings were escalated to a consumer protection association, which issued a cease-and-desist letter.
The Dutch distributor immediately complied and withdrew the products.
The German manufacturer refused to provide a legally binding declaration of discontinuance.
As a result, the consumer protection association obtained a preliminary injunction from the Hamburg Regional Court (decision of 4 March 2025, case number 416 HKO 28/25).
Following this ruling, the manufacturer entered into an out-of-court settlement and formally committed, under penalty of law, to:
- Properly declare potassium sorbate on relevant product labels
- Refrain from advertising sea buckthorn extract as a preservative
- Cease misleading “naturally preserved” claims
This is now a matter of public record.
Read the official announcement from the Schutzverband:
“Protection association successfully prevents labeling violations and food fraud in liposomal products” ← click here
Correcting the Record on UK Manufacturing
We have seen public statements from UK brands suggesting that their decision to manufacture overseas was driven by an absence of suitable UK manufacturers and by access to a “private source of sea buckthorn – a natural preservative”.
These statements do not accurately reflect either the science involved or the history of their formulation process.
In at least one case, a UK-based start-up initially approached us for formulation advice. Over an extended period, we provided extensive technical guidance free of charge, including:
- Detailed explanations of liposomal stability requirements
- Preservation strategies compliant with UK and EU food regulations
- The limitations of plant extracts as antimicrobial systems
- The role of alcohol and other solvents in stabilising liposomal dispersions
- Detailed nutritional support and regulatory guidance for children’s supplements
This support was offered in good faith, specifically because the business was UK-based and at an early stage.
During these discussions, it was made very clear that sea buckthorn extract is not an approved food preservative and there is no evidence-based method for preserving aqueous liposomal supplements using sea buckthorn extract alone. Furthermore, claims of “natural preservation” without effective antimicrobial systems would not withstand quality control or regulatory scrutiny
The subsequent public claim that UK manufacturers could not meet quality requirements – while a German manufacturer could do so using sea buckthorn extract – is therefore misleading.
UK manufacturers did not refuse to meet these requirements. Rather, we declined to compromise on scientific integrity and regulatory compliance.
On the Use of Ethanol in Liposomal Formulations
It has also been suggested that “all UK manufacturers require ethanol” and that this renders UK production unsuitable.
This framing is inaccurate.
Ethanol, where used, functions as:
- a solvent
- a processing aid
- or a stabilising component
It is not inherently unsafe, nor is it automatically present in finished products at meaningful levels.
More importantly, ethanol is not the only preservation option available, and its use, or non-use, does not change the fundamental requirement for effective, declared preservation.
Rejecting ethanol does not eliminate the need for preservatives. It simply narrows the technical options available.
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What This Really Demonstrates
The decision by this brand to manufacture elsewhere was not driven by superior preservation technology. It was driven by a willingness to make claims that UK manufacturers would not.
That distinction matters.
The “Crystallisation” Narrative – Why It’s Misleading
In the UK market, consumers are frequently told that visible crystallisation or instability in liposomal magnesium products is:
⇒ “A natural reaction”
⇒ “Proof of purity”
⇒ “A result of alkaline magnesium reacting with carriers”
This explanation is scientifically unsound, as we have previously explained.
In scientific reality, crystallisation in liposomal systems is a sign of formulation instability, pH drift, microbial activity and / or lipid degradation.
It is not evidence of innovation or naturalness.
Preservatives do not “chemically load” a product. They prevent spoilage. Their absence does not make a formulation superior, quite the opposite, it makes it more fragile.
To compare liposomal instability to honey crystallisation or fruit sedimentation is misleading and inappropriate and bordering on unethical.
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Why This Matters – Especially for Children’s Products
Many of the products involved in this case are marketed to parents for children, making bold claims of being “cleaner”, “purer”, or “free from nasties.”
Consumers have the right to make informed choices. That requires accurate ingredient declarations and truthful marketing.
We do not object to potassium sorbate.
We object to pretending it isn’t there.
Our Position
- Potassium sorbate is a safe, legal preservative when properly declared
- Sea buckthorn extract is not an approved food preservative
- There is currently no evidence-backed method to preserve aqueous liposomal supplements using sea buckthorn or rosemary extract alone
To be clear – transparency matters more than marketing narratives.
A Call for Accountability
We believe this case highlights the need for:
Greater scrutiny of white-label supplement manufacturing
Stronger enforcement of labelling laws
Honest communication with consumers
Innovation should be driven by science and not by what sounds good on a label.
