Quality Statement
Quality Control and Quality Practices
Quality Assurance
Meeting state and federal food and drug regulations says that you are committed to passing a periodic review to ensure that your business continues to operate. However, when a company creates its own standards and enforces them on a weekly basis, that company is apparently committed to the clients themselves and to the quality of what people put into their bodies. Ecuadorian Rainforest exemplifies the latter scenario. Take note of some of the ways that we define and enforce rigorous standards of quality for our products:
• The institution of an internal Quality Control Program to ensure that products are free of toxins and undesired by-products.
• Alliances with science laboratories to enforce rigorous testing procedures.
• Weekly testing for microbial pathogens and heavy metals (Lead, Cadmium, Arsenic, Mercury).
• Microbiological testing (Total Plate count, Yeast & Mold, Coliforms, E. Coli and Salmonella).
• Random testing of materials moisture content.
• HPTLC (High-Performance Thin Layer Chromatography) testing for initial approval and supply of materials.
• High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) testing for powder extracts.
• Prevention of all sub-potent and contaminated materials from entering the products.
• Regular testing for proper identification and chemical efficacy.
To ensure quality of our ingredients we use the following methods.
Botanical Identification
Macroscopic (Visual): Evaluation of a sampled product based upon inspection of the products visual characteristics - texture, size, etc.
Microscopic: Evaluation of a product based upon visual inspection, with the aid of a high powered microscope, of cells, cell walls, cell structure and characteristics, etc.
HPLC: Stands for High Pressure (Performance) Liquid Chromatography. This test provides verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard. You may often see the term HPLC on our certificate of Analysis.
Gas Chromatography (GC): GC is a common type of chromatography used in analytic chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. This test helps in providing verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard.
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC). Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique used to separate mixtures. This test helps to provide verification of product identity when tested against a reference standard.
Organoleptic (senses)
Appearance: Samples of each product are evaluated based upon their general appearance and uniformity and are compared, to ensure conformance, to a known standard.
Color: The color is used to identify products based upon conformance, of color, to a known standard.
Aroma: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of aroma, to a known standard.
Flavor: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of flavor, to a known standard.
Physical Analyses
Particle Size: A sieve analysis is used to measure the total particle size distribution of a prepared sample. Whether the product is in the form of a powder, cut and sifted, or tea bag cut, particle size analysis can help a customer judge whether a product is suitable for their application.
Foreign Organic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign organic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.
Foreign Inorganic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign inorganic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.
Tapped Density: Measures the density of a prepared sample (g/ml). This test can help one discern packaging or encapsulation requirements.
Chemical Analyses
Moisture Content: Measures the amount of volatile matter (water) driven off of a prepared sample under specified conditions. Elevated moisture content can increase the likelihood of microbial growth.
Steam Volatile Oil: Measures the amount of water insoluble steam volatile oil present in a prepared sample. In many products, volatile oil is an indication of product quality.
Total Ash: Measures the amount of carbon-free ash present in a prepared sample. This test can give an indication of the quality and purity of a product, as all organic material will burn off leaving dirt, silica, etc.
Acid Insoluble Ash: This test measures, after total ash, the amount of acid insoluble ash present in a prepared sample. This test gives an indication of the quality and purity of a product.
Heavy Metals: This test measures metallic impurities in a prepared product sample. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific metal.
Pesticides: This test measures the amount of pesticide residue that a prepared sample contains. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific pesticide. We aim to provide pesticide free ingredients!
Microbiological
Total Aerobic Plate Count: This test allows for the detection and enumeration of aerobic microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.
Yeast and Mold: This test allows for detection and enumeration of yeast and mold microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.
Coliform: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Coliform.
E. Coli: This test allows for detection and enumeration of E. Coli bacteria.
Salmonella SPP: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Salmonella Bacteria.