Nootropics Depot CEO Challenges Reishi Quality Standards

In a newly published white paper titled "Beyond the Marker: A Bioactives-First Standard for Reishi Quality," Eftang introduces the Standardized Target Analyte Grouping (STAG) framework. This proposal moves away from conventional, narrow marker assessments—which Eftang suggests are often used as convenient proxies for quality—toward an approach that evaluates entire groups of bioactive compounds. By focusing on the specific chemical classes responsible for pharmacological activity, the framework aims to close the gap between label highlights and actual product performance.

Eftang contends that existing legacy systems prioritize ease of measurement over functional specificity, leading to a market where consumers may purchase supplements devoid of the very compounds required for efficacy. The STAG framework advocates for greater analytical transparency and more rigorous target selection, urging manufacturers and laboratories to adopt standards rooted in biological relevance. This initiative is part of a wider effort by the Tempe-based company to challenge entrenched industry conventions, mirroring their recent technical critiques of electrolyte standardization. For Eftang, the move is a matter of integrity: if a product lacks the bioactives necessary for its purported effect, the consumer is effectively paying for a placebo.