Analysis of bokbunja products show they contain Rubus occidentalis L. fruit

• First report on bokbunja product adulteration.
• Anthocyanin profiles used for adulteration detection.
• Our continued efforts in bokbunja identity correction.

This is the first report of species adulteration in a collection of commercially available bokbunja (Rubus coreanus Miquel) products (n = 17) sold in Korea and the US (all originated from Korea). Twelve samples contained R. occidentalis L. fruit; the two species are clearly distinguishable by their anthocyanin profiles. Seven of 17 products were labeled in English to contain R. coreanus fruit; five of these samples contained R. occidentalis and two contained black carrot anthocyanins. The ten other products described contents as “bokbunja.” For two of the 17 products, species classification could not be made due to low anthocyanin present, while three of the 17 were adulterated with black carrot anthocyanins and contained no fruit anthocyanins. Anthocyanins ranged from 0.8 to 56.9 mg/100 mL, a 71-fold difference, for all samples. We are hopeful that this research will aid bokbunja growers, processors, and researchers in creating, reporting, and marketing accurately labeled improved foods.