How do NSP products compare in quality to other brands?
NSP Products are Superior to the Competition

Product Development

At Nature’s Sunshine, the design of superior products starts with Research and Development (R&D). In the development of each product, quality is built in at the beginning of the process. That standard of excellence begins with the knowledge and expertise of the two groups within R&D: Product Development and Methods Development. Within these two groups, NSP employs highly trained scientists and technicians to ensure the high standard of quality and effectiveness you have come to expect from Nature's Sunshine Products.

Once the Marketing and R&D departments approve a product idea, R&D’s Product Development group builds the product from conception to finished product. This process involves a great amount of technology and expertise. Nature’s Sunshine manufactures capsules, tablets, bulk powders, liquids and skin care products. Each finished product must meet different criteria to ensure that it looks professional and consistent. Our chewable tablets, bulk powders and liquid products must be palatable. Scientists from Product Development are able to formulate great-tasting, good-looking products without artificial flavors or colors, keeping them as natural as possible.

Once preliminary batches of new formulations are produced on a small scale, the product can move into production. Product Development is responsible for an accelerated and real-time stability program. NSP takes great care to make sure products maintain quality and potency throughout their shelf life. Scientists test and examine products after specified periods of time to guarantee they meet label claims and maintain appearance.

Product Development works hand-in-hand with production to oversee the manufacturing of NSP products. NSP follows good manufacturing practices (GMPs)—strict government regulations mandated by the Dietary Supplements Health and Education Act (DSHEA). Product Development aids Manufacturing in implementing and complying with these GMPs.

Product Quality

Our company strongly believes that uncompromising quality is not an option--it's an obligation. It's not a vague goal--it’s standard operating procedure. That's why the Nature’s Sunshine Quality Assurance Department is the acknowledged quality leader in the industry. 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. The quality process starts with the raw herb pulled from the ground, and extends through the manufacturing process to the finished products you take every day.

Testing Methods

Behind every Quality Assurance test for active components stands NSP’s Methods Development Group. These chemists develop methods to test raw materials and finished products, identifying and isolating active components. This ensures that our products always meet specifications and label claims. The Methods Development Group measures and identifies the naturally occurring active ingredients found in the raw material. They also obtain an herbal fingerprint to ensure consistency and quality.

NSP chemists use sophisticated equipment to accomplish these tasks. High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), Gas Chromatography (GC), Mass Spectrometry (MS) including HPLC-MS/MS, Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FTIR), Inductively Coupled Plasma (ICP) and Ultraviolet-Visible Spectrometry (UV-VIS) are a few of the instruments at their disposal. NSP scientists’ expertise is recognized worldwide with publication of their methods in peer-reviewed journals.

Disintegration

Each lot of tablets or capsules produced at NSP must pass the test for disintegration. Tablets and capsules are tested in accordance with the United States Pharmacopoeia. The tablets or capsules are placed in water maintained at 37° C, and the motion of the disintegration apparatus simulates the passage of a tablet or 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.

Dissolution Testing

This test mimics the body’s digestive system and shows the amount of product that is available for use by the body over time. We use this equipment to test our time-release products such as T/R Vitamin C, T/R Valerian and T/R St. John’s Wort. The Dissolution System controls critical environmental parameters for the sample being tested, including temperature, stir rate, sampling time and sampling volume. This close control allows for the highest possible accuracy in testing of our time-release products. Collected samples are analyzed using extremely sensitive analytical instrumentation such as HPLC or UV-Vis analysis. These instruments show the rate at which the compound is released.

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, which is subsequently 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 rejects 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.

High Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC)

This extremely sensitive computerized instrumentation allows us to analyze the ingredients of a mixture. The instrument uses advanced analytical techniques to separate, identify and quantify individual components. Vitamins and active constituents in herbs are tested on the HPLC. These components are measured in all finished products to verify that each lot meets the amount claimed on the label. We also use HPLC to examine the purity and potency of raw materials, particularly herbs that have active compounds. For example, the parthenolide content in feverfew and the capsaicin content in capsicum must meet specifications before these materials can receive QA approval.

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 (checking the taste, odor, color and appearance of the raw herb material). Since herbs are natural products, their characteristics may vary. However, they must fall within a specified range.

Microbiological 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. The bactometer is the testing machine of choice. It detects the growth of organisms by the change of electronic signals passed through the testing modules containing suspect bacteria. An increase in conductance in the sample indicates growth of organisms, and changes in the electronic signals are used to count the amount of organisms present. Nature’s Sunshine was the first company in the industry to utilize this exciting technology. In addition to the tests mentioned below, tests are also conducted for the presence of coliforms, pseudomonas and Staphylococcus aureus bacteria.

Total Bacteria Testing

To use the bactometer to determine the number of microbes that might be present, we take a total plate count. We test a sample of raw material 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 lot is rejected and returned to the vendor. Finished products are also audited to ensure that they meet NSP quality specifications.

Mold and Yeast Testing

We regularly perform yeast and mold counts using the bactometer. Its special modules contain the elements a mold or yeast would need to sustain life if it were present. When the organism grows, it is detected on the bactometer.

E. Coli Testing

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

Salmonella Testing

Salmonella bacteria are 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.

Manufacturing

The recent expansion of Nature’s Sunshine’s Spanish Fork warehouse/manufacturing facility more than doubles our total usable space (to over 250,000 sq. ft.) and our production capacity. The expansion also includes several more R&D and Quality Assurance labs and new manufacturing equipment.

As part of our improved environmental and process controls, Nature’s Sunshine has added many new, state-of-the-art features which translates to multiple benefits for the consumer and for NSP, including:

• Higher quality products that meet pharmaceutical standards
• Cleaner, more efficient production
• Reduced emissions and greater environmental awareness
• Better temperature and humidity control which results in higher quality and longer lasting products

Quality, Service, Integrity

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 motto: "Quality, Service and Integrity." From raw materials to finished goods, Nature's Sunshine ensures that your products are the best that money can buy.

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