Factors to consider when selecting raw materials:
1. Reputation: It’s important to select material from a reputable supplier that will be able to supply the materials every time. Suppliers should be audited to ensure they handle materials under sanitary conditions and have accurate records. It is preferable to perform on-site audits;
2. Identity: One requirement is demonstrating that the material used is indeed the material claimed. Identity tests range from organoleptic to very specific tests such as HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) or IR Spectroscopy.
3. Purity: this confirms that the material is fit for consumption and is free of contaminants such as microbial contamination or excess heavy metals. Purity test methods are established by authorities such as USP or AOAC and may be modified to meet your requirements. Microbial contamination tests typically include total plate count, yeast and mold, Salmonella, E. coli and coliforms. Heavy metal tests typically include lead, cadmium, arsenic and mercury. Again, if you don't have an in-house laboratory then you are strongly adviced to send the samples to a third-party laboratory for testing.
4. Potency: When using a material that has a daily value (a vitamin or mineral) or claiming a component of a material (i.e., choline from choline bitartrate or ginsenosides from ginseng), it is necessary to ensure the material contains the correct amount of that component. Third-party lab testing can be used in this instance as well.
5. Composition: Set the specifications of the product and the individual raw materials early in the design process to ensure sourcing consistency. You must ensure the materials sourced meets the specification of the product you want to build.
6. Value: Products need to be consistent. While it may be more economical in the short term to select raw materials on price alone, a material that is a little more expensive but gives consistently high quality materials from the same supplier for every lot may be the better value in the long run.
