Preservatives and Additives testing

This test quantifies 1,3-butanediol (butylene glycol) in supplements, beverages, and raw materials to verify ingredient identity and dosage accuracy. Using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), the method achieves sensitive detection down to low microgram per milliliter levels, even in complex matrices. Accurate measurement ensures product quality and compliance with formulation specifications.

Samples are diluted with aqueous methanol and filtered prior to analysis. The LC-MS/MS system operates in multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) mode, targeting specific ion transitions characteristic of 1,3-butanediol. Quantification is performed using a calibration curve constructed from certified reference standards over a relevant concentration range. Internal standards are added to correct for matrix effects and instrument variability. Method precision and accuracy are verified through duplicate injections, quality control samples, and spike recovery experiments.

Results are reported in mg/mL (liquids), mg/g (solids), or mg/serving for finished products. Testing verifies label claims, supports formulation development, and ensures batch-to-batch consistency.

This targeted panel detects the presence of undeclared or prohibited substances often found in adulterated sports supplements. Using LC-MS/MS, it screens for anabolic agents, stimulants, and weight-loss drugs at trace levels to ensure compliance with Amazon’s dietary supplement requirements and FDA safety standards.

Samples are extracted and analyzed using high-resolution LC-MS/MS with compound-specific mass transitions and retention times. Quantification and detection are validated using certified reference materials and internal standards. The method is sensitive to low parts-per-billion (ppb) levels and is run with duplicate injections and quality controls to ensure defensibility.

Results are reported as detected/not detected, with optional quantification in ng/g or ppb. The panel confirms the absence of illegal or undeclared compounds that could result in product delisting or regulatory action. Ideal for pre-market screening, ongoing batch verification, or audit prep for Amazon listing compliance.

This panel quantifies common artificial sweeteners—including aspartame, acesulfame potassium (acesulfame K), saccharin, and sucralose—in food, beverage, and supplement samples. Using HPLC, it verifies sweetener levels for regulatory compliance, formulation accuracy, or “artificial sweetener-free” claims.

Samples are extracted in water or suitable solvents and filtered for analysis. The extract is analyzed by HPLC with UV detection at compound-specific wavelengths. Calibration with certified standards for each sweetener, along with internal standard correction and duplicate runs, ensures reliable quantification.

Results are reported in ppm (mg/kg or mg/L). The values are compared against label claims, regulatory thresholds (e.g., FDA, EU), or clean-label standards. This panel supports accurate product labeling, detects undeclared sweeteners, and ensures formulation compliance in diet and sugar-free products.

This assay quantifies butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), a synthetic antioxidant used to prevent oxidation in oils, snacks, and supplements. Using LC-MS/MS, it detects trace levels of BHT to verify formulation accuracy, meet regulatory standards, or support “BHT-free” label claims.

Samples are extracted with organic solvents under light- and oxygen-protected conditions. The extract is analyzed by LC-MS/MS with detection based on compound-specific mass transitions. Quantification is performed using high-purity BHT standards, with internal standard correction and duplicate injections to ensure reliable results.

Results are reported in ppm (mg/kg or mg/L). The values are assessed against legal limits (e.g., FDA, EU) and declared label specifications. Testing helps verify antioxidant dosing in processed foods and detect undeclared use in clean-label or natural product lines.

This assay quantifies bioactive compounds in fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum) using LC-MS/MS, typically focusing on key steroidal saponins such as protodioscin and diosgenin. It verifies extract potency and standardization in supplements targeting testosterone support, blood sugar balance, and overall metabolic function.

Samples are extracted using alcohol-based solvents and analyzed by LC-MS/MS with compound-specific mass transitions. Quantification is performed using certified standards for fenugreek bioactives, with internal standard correction and duplicate injections to ensure accurate and reproducible results.

Results are reported in mg per g or per serving. Values are compared to standardization targets and label claims to confirm bioactive content and detect adulteration or low-quality material.

This test quantifies glycerol (glycerin) — a naturally occurring trihydroxy sugar alcohol used as a humectant, solvent, and functional ingredient in food, dietary supplement, and sports nutrition applications — in raw materials and finished products using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Glycerol is increasingly used as a hyperhydration agent in endurance sports nutrition products, and accurate quantification is important for label claim verification and for confirming that the declared amount of this functional ingredient is present. LC-MS/MS provides the sensitivity and specificity needed to quantify glycerol accurately in complex matrices where other polyols and carbohydrates may be present. Results are reported as a percentage or in milligrams per gram or per serving.

A representative sample is accurately weighed and dissolved in an appropriate aqueous solvent. An isotopically labeled internal standard (e.g., ¹³C-labeled glycerol) is added prior to sample preparation to correct for matrix effects and recovery variability. The extract is filtered and analyzed by reversed-phase or HILIC LC-MS/MS, with detection by electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive or negative ion mode using multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions specific to glycerol. Quantification is performed against a multi-point external calibration curve prepared from a certified glycerol reference standard. Quality control samples at multiple concentration levels are run concurrently to confirm method accuracy, precision, and linearity throughout the analytical run.

Glycerol is a small, highly polar molecule that presents chromatographic challenges for standard reversed-phase HPLC methods due to its poor retention on non-polar stationary phases. LC-MS/MS with MRM detection provides the compound-specific selectivity and sensitivity needed to accurately quantify glycerol in complex food and supplement matrices without the need for derivatization, distinguishing it from co-occurring polyols such as sorbitol, mannitol, and propylene glycol. This level of analytical specificity supports label claim accuracy, raw material qualification, and cGMP compliance under 21 CFR 111.

This test identifies and quantifies maltodextrin — a mixture of glucose oligomers derived from starch hydrolysis — in dietary supplements, protein powders, and raw materials using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Maltodextrin is widely used as a bulking agent, carrier, and carbohydrate source in supplement formulations, and its accurate characterization is important for label transparency, carbohydrate content verification, and detection of undeclared use as a filler. Results are reported as a percentage of total carbohydrate content or mg per gram as applicable.

A representative sample is weighed and dissolved in warm deionized water with sonication to ensure complete solubilization of the maltodextrin oligomers. Quantification is performed against a multi-point calibration curve prepared from certified maltodextrin or glucose oligomer reference standards.

This assay quantifies benzoic acid (from sodium benzoate) and sorbic acid (from potassium sorbate), two widely used food and beverage preservatives. It uses HPLC to confirm compliance with formulation targets, regulatory limits, and “preservative-free” label claims in natural products.

Samples are extracted using aqueous or alcohol-based solvents depending on the matrix. The extract is analyzed by HPLC with UV detection at compound-specific wavelengths. Calibration with high-purity benzoic and sorbic acid standards, along with internal standard correction and duplicate runs, ensures reliable quantification.

Results are provided in ppm (mg/kg or mg/L). Values are compared against regulatory limits (e.g., FDA, EU) and declared label levels. Accurate testing supports functional food and beverage formulations while helping brands avoid overuse or undeclared preservatives in “clean label” products.

This test identifies and quantifies sodium copper chlorophyllin (SCC; E-141ii) — a water-soluble, semi-synthetic derivative of chlorophyll in which the central magnesium ion is replaced by copper and the phytol ester chain is saponified to yield water-soluble chlorin carboxylate salts — in raw materials and dietary supplements using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sodium copper chlorophyllin is used in dietary supplements as an antioxidant, internal deodorant, and natural green colorant, and is approved as a food color additive (E-141) in many international markets. LC-MS/MS enables the specific identification and quantification of the characteristic copper chlorin species (copper chlorin e4, e6, and related homologs) that constitute sodium copper chlorophyllin, distinguishing it from natural chlorophylls, magnesium chlorophylls, and other chlorophyll derivatives. Results are reported as a percentage or in milligrams per gram or per serving.

A representative sample is accurately weighed and dissolved in an appropriate aqueous or aqueous-organic solvent system (e.g., aqueous methanol or acetonitrile with ammonium acetate buffer) to ensure complete dissolution of the water-soluble copper chlorin salts. An isotopically labeled or structurally analogous internal standard is added prior to sample preparation to correct for matrix effects and recovery variability. The extract is filtered and analyzed by reversed-phase LC-MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) in negative ion mode — preferred for chlorophyll derivatives due to the carboxylate functionality — with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions selected for the characteristic copper chlorin species. Quantification is performed against a multi-point external calibration curve prepared from a certified sodium copper chlorophyllin reference standard. Quality control samples are run concurrently to confirm method accuracy, precision, and linearity throughout the analytical run.

Sodium copper chlorophyllin is a complex mixture of semi-synthetic copper chlorin derivatives whose composition cannot be adequately characterized by UV-Vis spectrophotometry alone, as natural chlorophylls, magnesium chlorophylls, and copper chlorophyllin derivatives share overlapping absorption spectra. LC-MS/MS with MRM detection provides the compound-specific selectivity required to unambiguously identify and quantify the characteristic copper chlorin species of SCC, confirming both the copper substitution (distinguishing SCC from natural magnesium chlorophylls) and the saponification state (distinguishing SCC from copper chlorophyll, E-141i). This level of specificity is important for regulatory compliance with food color additive specifications, label claim accuracy, and cGMP compliance under 21 CFR 111.

This test quantifies individual sugar alcohols (polyols) in food, dietary supplement, and raw material matrices using Liquid Chromatography coupled with Tandem Mass Spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). Sugar alcohols are widely used as low-calorie sweeteners, humectants, and bulking agents in dietary supplements, functional foods, and confectionery products, and their accurate quantification is important for nutritional labeling compliance under 21 CFR 101, which requires declaration of sugar alcohol content when a sugar alcohol is added to a food or when a claim is made about sugar alcohols. LC-MS/MS provides the sensitivity and compound-specific selectivity required to simultaneously identify and quantify individual sugar alcohol species in complex matrices where multiple polyols and carbohydrates may co-occur. Results are reported in milligrams per gram or per serving for each individual sugar alcohol detected.

A representative sample is accurately weighed and dissolved in an appropriate aqueous diluent. Isotopically labeled internal standards (e.g., deuterium-labeled polyols) are added prior to sample preparation to correct for matrix effects and recovery variability. The extract is filtered and analyzed by HILIC or reversed-phase LC-MS/MS using electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive or negative ion mode, with multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) transitions selected for each target sugar alcohol. Because sugar alcohols share similar molecular weights and fragmentation patterns, careful selection of MRM transitions and chromatographic conditions is critical to resolve individual species — particularly structural isomers such as sorbitol and mannitol, which have identical molecular weights and require chromatographic separation for individual quantification. Quantification is performed against multi-point external calibration curves prepared from certified reference standards for each target sugar alcohol. Quality control samples are run concurrently to confirm method accuracy, precision, and linearity.

Sugar alcohols are small, highly polar, non-UV-absorbing compounds that are poorly retained on standard reversed-phase HPLC columns and cannot be reliably resolved or quantified by refractive index detection in complex matrices. LC-MS/MS with HILIC chromatography and MRM detection provides the retention, resolution, and compound-specific selectivity needed to simultaneously quantify individual sugar alcohol species — including difficult-to-resolve isomeric pairs such as sorbitol and mannitol — in the presence of sugars, amino acids, and other polar matrix components. This approach supports accurate nutritional labeling compliance under 21 CFR 101, raw material qualification, and cGMP compliance under 21 CFR 111.

This assay quantifies sulfites (including sulfur dioxide) in food, beverage, and supplement products using LC-MS/MS. It is used to detect trace levels of sulfiting agents—commonly added as preservatives—to support allergen labeling, confirm "sulfite-free" claims, or comply with regulatory thresholds.

Samples are extracted and derivatized to stabilize free and bound sulfites, then analyzed by LC-MS/MS using compound-specific mass transitions. Quantification is performed using certified sulfite standards with internal standard correction and duplicate injections for precision.

Results are reported in ppm (mg/kg) as total sulfites. Values are compared to international regulatory thresholds (e.g., ≥10 ppm triggers labeling in the U.S. and EU) to ensure compliance and support accurate claims.

This test quantifies thaumatin — a naturally occurring sweet-tasting protein extracted from the fruit of Thaumatococcus daniellii (katemfe fruit), approximately 2,000–3,000 times sweeter than sucrose by weight — in food products, dietary supplements, and raw materials using High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC). Thaumatin is approved as a natural sweetener and flavor modifier in numerous markets and is used at very low concentrations to provide sweetness and mask bitter or off-notes in formulations. Accurate quantification is important for verifying the declared use level, confirming ingredient identity, and ensuring compliance with applicable regulatory specifications. Results are reported in milligrams per gram or per serving.

A representative sample is accurately weighed and extracted in a suitable aqueous buffer to solubilize the protein, with any necessary clarification steps applied to remove interfering matrix components. The extract is filtered through a 0.2 µm membrane and analyzed by reversed-phase HPLC on a C18 or C4 column, with UV detection at 280 nm — the characteristic protein absorbance wavelength. Quantification is performed against a multi-point external calibration curve prepared from a certified thaumatin reference standard. Peak identity is confirmed by retention time comparison to the reference standard, and system suitability and quality control standards are run concurrently to confirm method accuracy and precision throughout the analytical run.

Thaumatin is used at very low concentrations — typically in the microgram to low milligram per serving range — making accurate HPLC quantification essential for confirming that the declared use level is present and that the ingredient has not been diluted or substituted. As a protein-based sweetener, thaumatin requires a chromatographic method capable of resolving it from other proteins and matrix components, and reversed-phase HPLC with UV detection at 280 nm provides the specificity and sensitivity needed for this purpose. This test supports ingredient authentication, label claim accuracy, and regulatory compliance for thaumatin as a permitted food additive.