Articles

Stability Testing What is Stability Testing? Stability Testing, also referred to as Shelf Life Testing, is a process for determining the duration in which a product can retain its quality. Quality can be assessed by evaluating the physical, chemical, and microbiological characteristics under long-term storage. Finished goods are held at fixed storage conditions for specific time intervals when testing is performed. Products Types There are four types of products that commonly undergo Stability Testing: dietary supplements, food, personal care products, and pharmaceuticals. At Contract Testing Laboratories of America (CTLA), we perform Stability Testing on dietary supplements, food, and personal care...

Benefits of UV-VIS Spectroscopy In the past century, the general population has moved from self-sustaining lifestyles to manufacturing and desk jobs. A century ago, the bulk of nutrition my ancestors consumed came from the plants and animals they had on their small farms. Today, few of their descendants own and operate farms.    And instead of producing a variety of food, those who own farms focus on a few crops and choose to purchase most of the food they eat. The production, harvesting, storage, preservation, and nutritional content of food have drastically changed. These shifts coupled with advances in biochemical...

As the global population becomes better educated, they have more discretionary income for spending. However, hectic lifestyles leave these same people struggling to fill nutritional needs.  With increased understanding and excess money, consumers are empowered to purchase high-quality, natural, and sustainable food products and dietary supplements. Statista reports Millenials and Gen Xers (25-58-year-olds) are increasingly willing to pay more for clean, natural, and organic products. FDA Requirements The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulates food products and dietary supplements for public safety and nutritional content. Dietary supplements, in particular, must follow current good manufacturing practices (GMP) to ensure the...

There is nothing more expensive for a company than a recall. Public safety issues cause recalls. When recalls happen, the brand owner eats every cost associated with producing and distributing their product. For food, dietary supplements, and cosmetics, recalls occur when the product contains harmful microorganisms or heavy metals.   In addition, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) requires nutritional labeling on dietary supplements and packaged foods. Products can be recalled if nutritional labeling does not match product contents. Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS) analysis is the best method for determining inorganic content, including major and trace concentrations of minerals and...