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Introduction
Are you trying to come up with a concept for your new dietary supplement formula? Well, no matter what your formula is, you’ll have to figure out ways you can source the ingredients involved without compromising their quality. Most importantly, you will want to keep the production costs low while sourcing the ingredients quickly and efficiently. Don’t sweat it, as this guide is for people that want to have full control over the wellness and supplement formulas. Let’s discuss the six things you should consider while sourcing ingredients in 2022!
1. Minimum order quantity
The minimum order quantity is quite self-explanatory. You will have to check that with the supplier before placing the order. Generally, the minimum order quantity for all orders is around 25kg. The reason is that almost all the ingredients you will import are packaged using 25kg cardboard drums. However, the MOQs go as low as 1kg for more expensive products.
2. Lead time
This is a crucial factor while searching for an ingredient supplier because you would want to make sure that your orders are fulfilled within time. We suggest you pay attention to the lead time as it is of equal importance to cost. While you will prefer sourcing the ingredients from within the country, you might come across suppliers that may not have stock, and it is ordered to shipping from their facility overseas.
3. Specifications
Each ingredient comes with a spec sheet or certificate of analysis which can be used to determine the specifications. Supplied internally as a form, the spec sheet will cover the basic and quality aspects of the ingredient, such as bacteria count, mesh size, organoleptic data, and more. You might want to consider specifications that are internally supplied because you want to trust the supplied before placing the order.
4. Quality testing
We cannot overstate the importance of testing, especially identity fingerprinting, where you can confirm the data mentioned on the spec sheets. Connect with a third-party lab and compare the ingredient with a universal reference standard. If the ingredient matches the standard, you can rest assured that you have received the real ingredients. Most of the testing will involve a high-performance thin-layer chromograph.
5. Water solubility and flavor testing
If the product involves end-user mixing, we suggest you obtain a raw sample and conduct water solubility and flavor testing. Check the solubility of the ingredients with different solvents, primarily water. Document the results and keep testing for test uniformity. The tests will also help determine the consistency in flavor.
6. Save documents to track changes
Lastly, save a copy of all the documentation from the supplier and test results. Most importantly, save the raw sample in an airtight container to prevent damage due to extreme heat/cold and light. Not just that, we suggest you keep a sample of the production batch in inventory for record-keeping. All these steps help track changes in the ingredient sources over time.
Final remarks!
There you have it. We shared some of the most crucial aspects of sourcing ingredients, hoping you’ll make highly informed purchasing decisions in the near future. Believe it or not, gone are the days when you could easily find manufacturers that supplied the purest ingredients ever. Today, you’ll need to stay extra cautious because the rising costs and competitiveness have pushed suppliers to dilute the ingredients. We have access to a global network of suppliers and can help you and your company source any ingredient for the best price. Contact us today!