Excerpt Regarding NSP Quality Less We Forget!


We can guarantee the quality and purity of every product we sell because we conduct our own extensive testing on every lot of every product. Very few supplement and herbal companies have the resources or staff to adequately conduct their own tests to ensure quality. If any trace of foreign material, including fertilizers, pesticides, or any other matter is found, we reject the batch and do not purchase from that vendor again in the future.

 

Some of the most important quality assurance tests conducted on our product include: Acid insoluble testing Ash testing Foreign organic matter Foreign inorganic matter Gas chromatography/mass spectrometry Heavy metal testing NSP generally does not have third party assays done because most all quality and potency testing can be done in-house. The only times when these are necessary, are when they are needed for marketing purposes or we do not have the analytical equipment to do the testing ourselves.

 

We buy our herbs from all corners of the globe. Most of the traditionally used herbs are only grown, or grow best, in their native environments. Herbs that are native to or are commonly grown in the United States are purchased from U.S. farmers. Because we buy our herbs from all corners of the globe, we cannot possibly certify all of the herbs that are grown on organic farms. Very few countries outside the U.S. have any kind of standard for organic certification. Because of this, we stand by our Quality Assurance motto: “The Proof is in the Testing”. If any trace of foreign material, including fertilizers, pesticides, or any other matter is found, we reject the batch and refuse to purchase from that vendor again in the future. Therefore when you purchase our products you can be guaranteed the product contains no residues from fertilizers or pesticides or other types of contamination. Quality is one factor that sets NSP apart from the competition.

 

NSP has one of the most extensive quality testing facilities and we are considered to be the quality leader in the natural supplement industry. NSP conducts independent testing to ensure that we provide high quality products. We meticulously test all raw materials and finished products. In all, we use more than 300 tests and procedures to ensure the quality of the raw materials we use and the finished products we sell. Our manufacturing facility enables us to manufacture products following pharmaceutical grade GMPs (good manufacturing practices). Quality begins in selection, where only the finest herbs and raw materials are obtained. The company’s global sourcing of raw materials ensures that the highest quality products are chosen from each harvest season. After being harvested, these materials are shipped to the manufacturing facility, where they are subjected to a series of in-depth quality control tests to ensure purity, potency and cleanliness. Nature's Sunshine meticulously tests all of the raw materials we receive. Our QA testing continues throughout the entire production process.

 

In all, we use more than 300 tests and procedures to ensure the quality of the raw materials we use and the finished products we sell. Once a product has been produced, it undergoes a battery of tests to assure consistency, quality and potency. The finished product is audited by inspectors for bulk weight, liquid volume, bottle count, bottle sealing and legible lot number. Samples are then given to the QA labs so scientists can complete testing according to finished product specifications. After all tests are completed and the product has passed the inspections, Quality Assurance will release the product. The batch record and a sample of the finished product are retained for future reference. If a customer has a question about a product, QA can refer to the retention sample of the lot in question. 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, our commitment to excellence will continue.

 

NSP chemists use sophisticated equipment to accomplish these tasks.

are a few of the instruments at their disposal.

 

NSP scientists’ expertise is recognized worldwide with publication of their methods in peer-reviewed journals. Nature’s Sunshine Products does extensive testing to ensure that each of our capsule and tablet products meet stringent dissolution and disintegration requirements.

 

Tablets and capsules are tested in accordance with the United States Pharmacopoeia. The capsules or tablets are placed in water maintained at 37 degrees C (body temperature) and the motion of the disintegration apparatus simulates the passage of a capsule through the body The time required for each tablet and capsule to break down is recorded, and all tablets and capsules must dissolve within 30 minutes to be accepted by NSP Quality Assurance. Additionally, ongoing stability testing is conducted to ensure that capsules and tablets from a given lot continue to pass disintegration testing throughout the shelf life of the product. We can guarantee the quality and purity of every product we sell because we conduct our own extensive testing on every lot of every product. This is considered superior to most other companies that don’t have the facilities to do their testing. These companies have to rely on periodic testing from outside labs. Third party testing is highly recommended because very few herbal companies have the resources or staff to adequately conduct their own tests to ensure quality.

 

NSP is one of the rare companies that can boast a full array of scientific testing equipment, as well as a full staff of scientists (We have 7 PhD’s on staff as well as 2 pharmacists, and over 15 chemists.) to conduct the tests. Because we are able to test each and every batch of product, we consider our products to be superior to a company's who occasionally hires outside labs to test their herbs and vitamins/minerals on an intermittent basis. We are confident in the quality of our products because of our extensive testing. Quality Assurance and Research & Development booklets are available that may be of interest to you. These booklets 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 products we offer. Some of this information is available online at http://www.naturessunshine.com/products/productquality/index.asp.



It is not just NSP's opinion that we are quality leaders; an independent source has verified this. NSP was selected by National Outlook magazine as the "Manufacturer of the Year" for 2002. Nutritional Outlook is a leading monthly magazine serving the nutritional industry, analyzing developments in regulations, ingredients, quality control, manufacturing technology, packaging, marketing, and new products from the manufacturer's perspective.

--Ryan Simons, Research Scientist

Nature’s Sunshine Products, Inc.

For further Health Sciences questions email us at hs@natr.com. For general questions please call Customer Service at (800) 223-8225 or email questions@natr.com.


Unless otherwise indicated, all NSP products mentioned are referring to products sold within the United States. If you have questions regarding products sold in other markets, please contact a representative from your specific market or visit your country’s NSP website.


Federal and state laws and regulations preclude Nature’s Sunshine Products from making specific medicinal or drug claims for its nutritional supplements. However, many products provide essential substances that affect bodily functions that may be influenced by poor dietary practices. Nature’s Sunshine nutritional supplements are designed to provide nutritional support of the body as it works to maintain a healthy condition. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. For counsel on injuries or disease, Nature’s Sunshine recommends that you see a health professional who can help you make responsible decisions concerning your specific health concerns.