Information
Articles on verification, quality, compliance, pricing, sourcing, formulation, and top botanicals.
Buyer Risk & Protection
Buyer Risk & Protection: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for buyer risk & protection — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
How escrow and CI verification reduce fraud risk.
How escrow and CI verification reduce fraud risk. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How to dispute a bad shipment.
How to dispute a bad shipment. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Insurance options for ingredient imports.
Insurance options for ingredient imports. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Compliance & Regulation
Compliance & Regulation: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for compliance & regulation — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
EU vs U.S. labeling requirements.
EU vs U.S. labeling requirements. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
FDA requirements for dietary supplement ingredients.
FDA requirements for dietary supplement ingredients. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How does Prop 65 in California affect ingredient sourcing?
How does Prop 65 in California affect ingredient sourcing? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What does “non-GMO” certification actually mean?
What does “non-GMO” certification actually mean? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What is GRAS status, and which ingredients have it?
What is GRAS status, and which ingredients have it? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What makes an ingredient “USDA Organic” vs “Organic in China/EU”?
What makes an ingredient “USDA Organic” vs “Organic in China/EU”? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Lab Testing & Quality
Lab Testing & Quality: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for lab testing & quality — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
Differences between U.S., EU, and China testing standards.
Differences between U.S., EU, and China testing standards. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Heavy metals: safe limits and testing methods (ICP-MS).
Heavy metals: safe limits and testing methods (ICP-MS). — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Microbial testing: how to read results.
Microbial testing: how to read results. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Residual solvents and pesticides—when are they required?
Residual solvents and pesticides—when are they required? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What’s the difference between in-house vs 3rd-party testing?
What’s the difference between in-house vs 3rd-party testing? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What’s the shelf-life of a COA?
What’s the shelf-life of a COA? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Which lab tests are required for each ingredient type?
Which lab tests are required for each ingredient type? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Why potency and identity testing matters (HPLC, FTIR).
Why potency and identity testing matters (HPLC, FTIR). — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Performance & Formulation
Performance & Formulation: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for performance & formulation — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
How to choose between multiple “top suppliers” for the same ingredient.
How to choose between multiple “top suppliers” for the same ingredient. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How to compare potency claims across suppliers.
How to compare potency claims across suppliers. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What lab data formulators value most.
What lab data formulators value most. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Which ingredients are trending in consumer supplements (2025).
Which ingredients are trending in consumer supplements (2025). — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Pricing & Payment
How Minimum Order Quantities Affect Risk
MOQ, batch risk, and strategies to de-risk first buys.
How to Negotiate Fair Payment Terms
Milestones, documents, and leverage for safer deals.
Pricing & Payment: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for pricing & payment — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
How escrow protects buyers in ingredient deals.
How escrow protects buyers in ingredient deals. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How minimum order quantities (MOQs) are set.
How minimum order quantities (MOQs) are set. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How to negotiate fair payment terms with suppliers.
How to negotiate fair payment terms with suppliers. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Spot market vs contracted pricing—pros & cons.
Spot market vs contracted pricing—pros & cons. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What are hidden costs in importing ingredients?
What are hidden costs in importing ingredients? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Why prices vary widely for the same ingredient.
Why prices vary widely for the same ingredient. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Sourcing & Supply Chain
Sourcing & Supply Chain: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for sourcing & supply chain — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
How ingredient recalls are handled.
How ingredient recalls are handled. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Seasonal factors that affect availability and price.
Seasonal factors that affect availability and price. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Top regions producing high-quality botanicals.
Top regions producing high-quality botanicals. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Traceability: how far back should buyers go?
Traceability: how far back should buyers go? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What logistics partners specialize in food & supplement imports?
What logistics partners specialize in food & supplement imports? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Wild-crafted vs cultivated botanicals.
Wild-crafted vs cultivated botanicals. — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
Verification & Trust
Common Ingredient Fraud Cases: Dilution & Substitution
How dilution, substitution, and mislabeling happen — and the practical checks that catch them before they cost you.
Avoid Chargebacks with Escrow & Verification
Reduce chargebacks and returns by building verification into the flow.
How Escrow Protects Buyers and Suppliers
Align incentives, reduce disputes, and keep cash safe.
Verification & Trust: Complete Guide
Authoritative hub for verification & trust — curated guides, checklists, and definitions.
How can buyers confirm lab tests are legitimate?
How can buyers confirm lab tests are legitimate? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
How do we verify ingredient suppliers?
Step-by-step verification workflow, the documents to request, how to review COAs, and clear acceptance criteria.
How often are suppliers re-audited?
How often are suppliers re-audited? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What certifications (cGMP, ISO, USDA Organic) matter most?
What certifications (cGMP, ISO, USDA Organic) matter most? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.
What red flags in a COA should buyers look for?
What red flags in a COA should buyers look for? — practical definitions, checklists, and what to ask suppliers.