| What Is IFOS? | | | | leading edge of science. |
| Background | | | | Consumer Benefit |
| Nutrasource Diagnostics Inc., (“NDI”), a | | | | With growing contamination concerns for the |
| University of Guelph spin off company, is theworld | | | | consumer, and recent clinical datasuggesting the |
| leader in omega-3 diagnostic care and international | | | | negative effects of mercury and PCB’s from |
| fish oil standards testing. NDI was formed in 2001 | | | | edible marine sources, the |
| to commercialize omega-3 related assays | | | | IFOS program continues to grow in popularity and |
| developed by Lipid | | | | prove its value as a reliable source for third party |
| Analytical Laboratories in the University’s | | | | validation. Consumers are becoming increasingly |
| Research Park Center. | | | | aware of the many clinically established health |
| Program Summary | | | | benefits of omega-3, but are equally concerned |
| Since that time, NDI has launched a series of | | | | with contamination issues. |
| certification and validation programs in the | | | | The IFOS program delivers a suitable venue for |
| nutraceutical and functional food field, with a | | | | the omega-3 supplement industryto showcase |
| particular emphasis on omega-3 related products. | | | | credible product sources. |
| One of these leading programs is the International | | | | How Does IFOS compare to other certification |
| Fish Oil Standards Program | | | | programs like ‘Good Manufacturing |
| (“IFOS”), which clinically validates omega-3 | | | | Practices’ and 'ISO 9000 Series'? |
| products for concentrations of keyingredients and | | | | The IFOS Program is concerned with the quality |
| levels of contamination. Consumers across the | | | | of omega-3 products as it relates to the |
| world may access theweb-site ‘ to view | | | | international standards established by the World |
| batch reports confirming the results of thirdparty | | | | Health Organization and the Council For |
| validation testing. | | | | Responsible Nutrition for purity and concentration. |
| Testing Information | | | | The GMP and ISO certifications are concerned |
| NDI, through its certified and accredited reference | | | | with the manufacturing protocols and consistency |
| laboratory partners, tests the productfor PCB, | | | | of manufacturing procedures behind the making |
| Mercury and Oxidation levels in accordance with | | | | of the omega-3 product. Quality of omega-3 |
| Council for Responsible | | | | product and quality of the manufacturing behind |
| Nutrition’s voluntary monograph on omega-3 | | | | the omega-3 product are two very different |
| products and safety standards for | | | | things. If a manufacturer is ISO certified, it means |
| humanconsumption. Dioxin and Furan levels are | | | | they follow the same guidelines each time they |
| tested against the World Health | | | | make the same product line and that each step is |
| Organization’s standard and omega-3 | | | | documented and followed. That does not mean |
| concentration is tested and compared with | | | | the omega-3 product is of high purity and high |
| theproduct label claim. PCB, Dioxin and Furan levels | | | | concentration. |
| are tested using liquidchromatography mass | | | | Why does IFOS choose the CRN and WHO |
| spectrometry at a detection limit of parts per | | | | standards over other standards such as |
| trillion. Mercury istested using cold vapor atomic | | | | European Pharmacopoeia? |
| absorption spectroscopy at a detection limit of | | | | IFOS is an international program, and the WHO |
| parts per billion. | | | | and CRN standards are internationallyrecognized |
| Omega-3 content is tested using gas | | | | bodies in every country where omega-3 products |
| chromatography advanced capillarytechniques as a | | | | are sold as the standards for purity. |
| percentage of weight, and Oxidation testing is | | | | IFOS provides a one stop solution for consumers |
| conducted using a titration method for peroxide | | | | and omega-3 product promoters in every country |
| and uv-visible spectrophotometer for p-anisidine | | | | for a world wide benchmark of compliance. |
| under numbered official AOCS methods Cd 8-53 | | | | Why is third party validation testing important? |
| for peroxide and Cd 18-90 for p-anisidine | | | | All manufacturers of omega-3 product have a |
| respectively. | | | | certificate of analysis for each batch theymake. |
| Although the standard detection limit expressed | | | | IFOS, as a third party testing service, will verify |
| for each category is set by the governing | | | | that the manufacturer’s certificate of analysis |
| organization, the IFOS program tests the | | | | is factually correct which provides the added |
| products at far lower levels of detection in most | | | | comfort that you are feeding premium product to |
| categories, based on the most advanced analysis | | | | yourself and your family. Flavoring, bottling, lack of |
| technology platforms available. | | | | nitrogen purging and many other factors may |
| As the sophistication of the instrumentation | | | | contribute to the degradation of an oil from initial |
| increases, the IFOS program will continue to | | | | manufacturing to the shelf. |
| update the testing regiment to ensure it is on the | | | | |