Natural vs Synthetic

Natural vs Synthetic Menthol – How to Check for Adulteration

Menthol is a compound that is used across many industries from confectionary to pharmaceutical products. Its popularity and range of applications stems from its activation of cold-sensitive human tissue receptors. There are both natural and synthetic sources of menthol available today, with synthetic menthol expected to see increasing market growth.

3 Types of Adulteration in Dietary Supplements and How to Detect Them

Economically motivated adulteration is a serious problem for many products, including dietary supplements. The association with being natural and having a positive impact on health has led to the increasing popularity of dietary supplements. The responsibility of the safety of these supplements lie primarily with the manufacturer. Both in the United States and European Union, […]

Beta Analytic Discusses the Adulteration of Curcumin and Natural Products

In a recent edition of Nutraceuticals Now, Beta Analytic Research Associate Anna Lykkeberg examined the adulteration of curcumin and how this translates into quality control for natural products in general. The article outlines the adulteration challenges and the role that carbon-14 testing can play in detecting petrochemical-derived adulterants in curcumin as well as the implications […]

Natural or Synthetic Vitamin E – Does It Matter?

The vitamin supplement market has boomed over recent years and is expected to reach a global market value of USD 81 billion by 2025 according to Persistence Market Research. Looking at Vitamin E in particular, its origin—natural or synthetic—has been a popular topic of discussion. As consumer interest increases in natural products, vitamin supplements have […]

How to Validate “Natural” Ingredients in Cosmetics

In an article published in Personal Care Europe magazine, Beta Analytic highlighted the use of biobased testing to screen cosmetic ingredients claiming to be 100% naturally sourced. Beta Analytic’s Marketing Specialist Haley Gershon discussed the rising consumer preference for “natural” cosmetic items, global initiatives to ban microbeads in personal care products, and biobased testing as […]

Beta Analytic Examines the Adulteration of Natural Ingredients

In a recent edition of the Food Safety Magazine, Beta Analytic Global Operations Manager Jasmine Garside and Research Associate Anna Lykkeberg discussed the adulteration of natural food products. The article outlines how carbon-14 testing can enhance supply chain integrity and food safety by detecting synthetic petrochemical-derived adulterants that are mislabelled on food products and ingredients.

Natural vs Synthetic – Turmeric Adulteration

A recent bulletin from the American Botanical Council highlights the key adulteration challenges facing turmeric, along with information about the market, safety considerations and scientific analysis. Turmeric adulteration was first reported in the 1970s. As the author Ezra Bejar, PhD, summarized, “the adulteration of this plant species is an extensive, complex and multifactorial enterprise driven […]

What Solution does Carbon-14 Testing Offer to Personal Care Manufacturers?

Beta Analytic published an article in Personal Care Magazine entitled “Verifying natural ingredients via carbon-14 testing” detailing how carbon-14 testing can help manufacturers of personal care products. The personal care industry has seen increasing demand for “natural” products, with the natural and organic personal care products market value predicted to reach $21,776.9 million by 2024.1 The […]

Verifying Natural Products: Is Carbon-14 Analysis Necessary?

As natural products become more popular, so follows the increasing incentive for adulteration. There are many testing methods available to help authenticate natural products. However, owing to the complexity of many natural products and new adulteration methods, there is no single test that can guarantee 100% authenticity.

How Do QC Analysts Confirm Petrochemical Adulteration in Bitter Almond Oil?

Economically motivated adulteration of bitter almond oil is a major concern in the food and beverage industry. Quality control teams need a stringent method to confirm if their bitter almond oil ingredient is natural or has been artificially made from petrochemical derivatives. Although there are several techniques that can detect adulteration, only carbon-14 analysis can […]

Carbon-14 Analysis of Vitamin B Complexes

Beta Analytic Global Operations Manager Jasmine Garside discusses in the Autumn 2017 issue of Nutraceuticals Now the challenges surrounding development, procurement and labeling of “all natural” products and how carbon-14 testing can be used to check the veracity of “natural” Vitamin B preparations.

How Carbon-14 Analysis Enhances Garlic Oil Quality Control

Garlic oil is vulnerable to economically motivated adulteration and misleading or false labeling. ISO 17025-accredited natural products testing lab Beta Analytic selected garlic oil as subject of a case study precisely because of these reasons and to highlight the need for strict quality control measures for essential oils.

What is “Natural”?

The definition of “natural” has been a popular topic for years following the growing interest in natural products. The claim lacks clear regulation in many industries, resulting in ambiguity for consumers seeking natural products. While regulations catch up with trends, it is important for businesses with natural products to be able to offer clarity for […]

Beta Analytic Shares Views on Quality Control in the Supplement Industry

In a recent issue of Nutrition Industry Executive, Beta Analytic Research Associate Anna Lykkeberg participated in a roundtable discussion on quality and compliance in the supplement industry and discussed the challenges with natural products and the role of third-party testing.

Carbon-14 Analysis: QA Tool for Dietary Supplements

In a recently published issue of the Nutritional Outlook, Beta Analytic Global Operations Manager Jasmine Garside talks about the importance of Carbon-14 analysis as a quality assurance tool for the nutraceuticals industry. To protect the integrity of their brands, it is highly recommended for manufacturers and distributors of dietary supplements to determine the veracity of […]

Food Coloring – Natural or Synthetic?

The food industry has seen a greater demand for naturally sourced additives compared to synthetic ones, and this is particularly true for food coloring and dyes. Business consulting firm Grand View Research predicts that the natural food coloring market will reach USD 2.5 billion by 2025. As the market grows, being able to detect the […]

How to Detect Petrochemical Adulteration in Curcumin

Curcumin is one of the major curcuminoids found in turmeric and has many uses from food and supplements to cosmetics. In 2015, the size of the curcumin market exceeded $39 million with the majority of use seen in the pharmaceutical and food industries.

Beta Analytic Talks About Natural Garlic Oil Verification

In a recently published issue of the Perfumer & Flavorist, Beta Analytic Global Operations Manager Jasmine Garside talks about challenges in garlic oil production, the vulnerability of garlic oil to adulteration and how companies can verify the “natural” claims of their suppliers through Carbon-14 analysis.

Carbon-14 Natural Product Analysis of Raspberry Ketone

Raspberry ketone has long been used in the flavor and fragrance industry for its characteristic fruity aroma and more recently as a dietary supplement. Its scientific name is 4-(p-hydroxyphenyl)-2-butanone and it can either be extracted from raspberries or synthesized. Natural product analysis based on Carbon-14 testing is a useful tool for verifying whether raspberry ketone […]

Tartaric Acid – Natural or Petrochemical?

Tartaric acid is an organic acid that has wide applications, including as an acidulant in the food and drinks industry and in pharmaceuticals. It has particular importance in the winemaking process. It exists in several forms with L(+)-tartaric acid being the form that is used commercially.