What’s in your mushroom supplements? Not all mushroom products are created equal — and according to Skye Chilton, transparent labeling would make all the difference for consumer awareness. As part of Nammex, Skye Chilton delivers high-quality, organic mushroom extracts to more than 500 companies, from new startups to Fortune 500 companies. But what’s remarkable is how this industry leader in mushroom cultivation advocates for better product transparency. shroomer’s Vivian Kanchian sat down with Skye Chilton to discuss an unfair business practice plaguing the mushroom supplement industry — selling mycelium advertised as mushroom fruiting bodies. - Truth in advertising “For decades, producers of myceliated grain have marketed these ingredients as “mushroom” and not disclosed the grain substrate, seriously misleading the companies purchasing these ingredients as well as confusing consumers. Myceliated grain is being produced in North America because it is too expensive to produce actual mushroom extract powders.” - Confusion is profitable “It’s been profitable for some companies to keep consumers confused. Many US-based myceliated grain producers have been misleading consumers for decades by using the term “mushroom” and using photos of these mushrooms in their marketing materials.” - Real mushrooms “Many of the active compounds [in chaga] like betulin and betulinic acid are from the birch tree. No birch tree = no birch compounds. Growing the mycelium in liquid fermentation would not produce these birch-related compounds. Growing the mycelium on a grain substrate would also not produce these birch-related compounds.” - Unethical marketing “If marketing materials are using images of chaga to sell a product with no chaga then that is a serious misrepresentation.”