Herb Specialists .com

Nature's Sunshine VS. The Competition

NSP QUALITY
In a world that is becoming increasingly hostile to human health, there has never been a greater demand for products that take a natural, holistic approach to wellness, an approach that is designed around the interdependence of the body's various systems. 

Nature's Sunshine products perfectly meet this growing worldwide need by marrying time honored wisdom with cutting edge technology. By placing in your hands the finest quality herbs and nutritional supplements, Nature's Sunshine gives you the tools you need to take charge of your health and to look and feel your best. 

At Nature's Sunshine, uncompromising quality is not an option - it is an obligation. It is not a vague goal -- it is standard operating procedure. That's why Nature's Sunshine is the acknowledged quality leader in the industry. 

Quality begins in the fields, where only the finest herbs and raw materials are selected. The company's global sourcing of raw materials ensures that the highest quality products are chosen from each harvest season. 

After harvesting, these materials are shipped to the Nature's Sunshine manufacturing facility where they are subjected to a series of in-depth quality control tests to ensure purity, potency and cleanliness. All incoming raw materials are thoroughly tested before they are released for use in Nature's Sunshine products. Quality checks continue throughout the various stages of manufacturing, as well as at the completion of production.

By maintaining this intense level of quality control and developing new methods and techniques to ensure top product quality, Nature's Sunshine perpetuates its long-standing position at the forefront of the industry. The natural result is a large and growing family of customers- men and women throughout the world who wouldn't think of buying any other brand than Nature's Sunshine. 

QUALITY ASSURANCE

Introduction 
As a company, Nature's Sunshine Products takes enormous pride in the quality of the products we offer. Indeed, quality is the first part of the Nature's Sunshine creed "Quality, Service, and Integrity." In order to produce high quality products, we start with the finest raw materials available. 

We subject each incoming shipment of raw materials to a battery of tests to establish the quality of the material before we use it in any of our products. Because quality is so important, we continuously test and re-test raw materials and products throughout the entire production process. NSP has invested millions of dollars in high-tech testing equipment to ensure that our methods and facilities are state-of-the-art. And we employ quality control experts who conduct a total of over 150 different testing procedures. 

The health products Nature's Sunshine offers are the very best in the world, and we are committed to leading the industry in product testing and overall product quality. This booklet provides helpful information about some of the tests we conduct so you can better understand the stringent testing procedures NSP follows and can have the utmost confidence in the product we offer. 

TESTING PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION 

MICROBIOLOGICAL TESTING 

Bacteria testing 
By testing for and counting the bacteria on machinery, equipment, and personnel in the production area, we can evaluate the standard hygiene level and the efficiency of our cleaning procedures. By checking the bacteria counts in the production areas we ensure that our products will not become contaminated in the manufacturing plant. 

NSP utilizes two different methods to test for bacteria: swabbing methods and a device called a bactometer, which uses advanced computer technology to test for the presence of bacteria in raw materials, liquids, and finished products. 

Total Bacteria testing 
To determine the number of microbes which might be contaminating a product, we take a total plate count. We test a sample of raw material or finished product and determine the amount of aerobic microbe contamination in the sample. We then compare this count to our stringent allowable spec levels. If any raw material counts are higher than allowable levels, the batch is rejected and returned to the vendor. Finished products are also audited to ensure they meet NSP quality specifications. 

Mold and Yeast testing 
We regularly perform yeast and mold counts by using a count plate. A count plate is a specialized dish which contains the elements a mold or yeast would need to sustain life if it were present, and a dye which helps these organisms appear visible. 

E. coli testing 
The dangers of Escherichia coli (E. coli) bacteria are well- known. Present in large enough quantities, this bacteria can be fatal. NSP tests raw materials for the presence of E. coli using specially designed E. coli count plates which contain an indicator that turns the bacteria blue if present. This allows for visual identification of the bacteria and, of course, rejection of that particular batch of raw material. 

Salmonella testing 
Salmonella bacteria is responsible for many food poisoning cases. NSP tests for salmonella bacteria in herb raw materials and products using what is called a 1-2 test, This test allows us to obtain results much more quickly than standard culture methods. 

HERB AND PURITY TESTING 

Organoleptic ID testing 
This is usually the first step in the identification of herb samples coming into the Quality Assurance testing area. This analysis includes testing with the senses, i.e. checking the taste, odor, color, and appearance of the raw herb material. 

Microscopy 
A microscopic evaluation is  performed on incoming herb samples to validate exactly which plant parts the sample contains (roots, leaves, fruit, bark), and to look for any foreign matter such as insect parts. This test involves the preparation of a slide of each herb powder to be tested. By analyzing the cell structure of the sample under the microscope, we can confirm the plant species, cell type (part of plant), and see possible contamination. 

Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) 
TLC is a reliable analytical technique that allows us to identify herbs and measure their quality. Different components of an herb extract are separated from each other using adsorption and capillary action. These components are spotted onto a plate, and the intensity of the spots represents the concentration of each component in the extract. Trained personnel can identify the components by color, and colorless substances are identified by using a special detecting spray or ultraviolet light. The TLC test allows us to "fingerprint" the herb sample and compare it to a library of known standards. Used in combination with the FTIR test, we can be assured that the key components in a particular herb are present in the sample. NSP occasionally uses TLC to do comparison testing. We test NSP products against similar products made by competitors to ensure that the NSP products potency and purity are greater than that of our competitors. 

Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) 
Its official name is Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy. The FTIR herb test validates the authenticity and purity of an herb sample. A beam of infrared light is passed through a sample of the herb. As the beam shines on the sample, the sample absorbs energy from the beam at certain frequencies. If we chart the frequencies at which the sample absorbs energy, we get the "absorption spectrum" of the herb. No two herbs have the exact same absorption spectrum, so by comparing these charts to existing charts, we can positively identify the herb. 

This test is critical because some herbs look, smell, and taste exactly alike, but one may cost 25 times more than another. Without FTIR resting, suppliers may be tempted to dilute the more expensive herb material with inexpensive "fillers." For example, golden seal plants have been over harvested in recent years. And as a result, the supply is limited and the raw herb is very expensive. Some suppliers may be tempted to dilute their golden seal with other herbs which have similar chemical composition. The FTIR test makes it impossible for suppliers to get away with this. 

This test also measures the level of the key components in herb samples so we can maintain consistent levels of potency from one batch of product to the next. 

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) 
This extremely sensitive, computerized tool allows us to analyze the ingredients in a mixture. We place a dissolved sample of a mixture in the auto sampler unit and pump it through the analytical column. The mixture separates into different vitamin (or herb) components, and the highly. sensitive detector measures the amount of each component in the mixture down to parts per million. By analyzing printed HPLC plots, we can verify proper ingredient ratios in a given mixture. 

We also use HPLC to examine the purity and potency of raw materials. For example, we use liquid chromatography to measure the parthenolide content in Feverfew and the ephedra content in Chinese Ephedra. 

FOREIGN MATERIALS TESTING 

Ash testing 
We burn a small sample of herb material in a special microwave furnace for one hour at 700 C. This burns away all of the organic (plant) matter. Any ash that remains after the burn is mineral content or dirt, and this is weighed. Every herb has a characteristic mineral content and a corresponding typical ash content. If, in testing, we find an ash content that is significantly higher than the typical ash content, we suspect the presence of dirt or some other foreign inorganic material. Dirt is a common problem, especially with herbs harvested from plant roots. If harvesters do not take the time to completely clean the dirt from the roots, NSP will reject their herbs. 

Acid Insoluble testing 
The inorganic ash left after ash testing is treated with hydrochloric acid and burned again- Any remaining ash is called acid insoluble ash (AIA). A high AIA value may indicate that the herb sample is contaminated with metal particles. 

Gamma Counter 
Some raw materials that come from eastern Europe may be contaminated with radiation from the Chernobyl nuclear power plant disaster. The Gamma Counter will show us if the materials are contaminated and will help us keep out products free from radiation. 

Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry (GC/MS) 
By using Gas Chromatography, we can separate complex mixtures of compounds into individual components. A sample of a mixture is placed in the GC machine where it is heated and becomes a gas. As this gas travels through a tube in the machine, the individual elements in the mixture separate out and attach to a special coating in the tube. These separated elements enter a detection unit called a Mass Spectrometer which graphs the individual elements and allows us to identify the compound. By examining these graphs we can look for unwanted elements such as pesticides. This use of leading technology gives Nature's Sunshine Products the quality advantage in ensuring the quality and purity of our natural health products. 

OTHER TESTING 

Inductively Coupled Plasma Spectrometer (ICP) 
The ICP has a flame that burns at 8727 C. We dissolve a sample of raw material or finished product in acid and then spray the solution into the middle of the flame. Inside the flame the different elements glow with their own unique colors. For example, calcium will glow with a different color than potassium. A highly sensitive meter graphs the brightness of each mineral in the flame, and the graph tells us how much of each mineral is present in the sample down to parts per million. If there are any unwanted elements in a test of raw material, the shipment is rejected. 

This testing device screens raw mineral samples for unwanted elements like arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury. The ICP is also used to test finished products like Super Supplemental and Mega-Chel to ensure the mineral content in these products meets label claims. 

NSP'S MOST IMPORTANT QUALITY ASSURANCE TESTS 

Nature's Sunshine meticulously tests all of the raw materials we receive. Our quality assurance testing continues throughout the entire production process. In all, we use over 150 tests and procedures to ensure the quality of the raw materials we use and finished products we sell. The following list represents a few of the most important tests we conduct.

Every test we conduct leads to better product quality, and excellence in product quality is what has put our products where they are today . . . at the top of the industry. You can be assured that with each new product we develop and manufacture, out commitment to excellence will continue.