Mastic Gum Powder

To ensure the highest quality in our ingredients, we test our products using the following methods.

Botanical Identification

• Macroscopic (Visual): Evaluation of a sampled product based upon inspection of the products visual characteristics - texture, size, etc.
• Microscopic: Evaluation of a product based upon visual inspection, with the aid of a high powered microscope, of cells, cell walls, cell structure and characteristics, etc.
• HPLC: Stands for High Pressure (Performance) Liquid Chromatography. This test provides verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard.  You may often see the term HPLC on our certificate of Analysis.
• Gas Chromatography (GC): GC is a common type of chromatography used in analytic chemistry for separating and analyzing compounds that can be vaporized without decomposition. This test helps in providing verification of product identity as well as quantitative determination of active constituents when tested against a reference standard.
• Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC):  Thin layer chromatography (TLC) is a chromatography technique used to separate mixtures. This test helps to provide verification of product identity when tested against a reference standard.

Organoleptic (senses)

• Appearance: Samples of each product are evaluated based upon their general appearance and uniformity and are compared, to ensure conformance, to a known standard.
• Color: The color is used to identify products based upon conformance, of color, to a known standard.
• Aroma: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of aroma, to a known standard.
• Flavor: Used to identify products based upon conformance, of flavor, to a known standard.

Physical Analyses

• Particle Size: A sieve analysis is used to measure the total particle size distribution of a prepared sample. Whether the product is in the form of a powder, cut and sifted, or tea bag cut, particle size analysis can help a customer judge whether a product is suitable for their application.
• Foreign Organic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign organic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.
• Foreign Inorganic Matter: Measures the amount of a prepared sample that is of a foreign inorganic nature. This is a measurement of the purity of the product and, thus, the quality of the product.
• Tapped Density: Measures the density of a prepared sample (g/ml). This test can help one discern packaging or encapsulation requirements.

Chemical Analyses

• Moisture Content: Measures the amount of volatile matter (water) driven off of a prepared sample under specified conditions. Elevated moisture content can increase the likelihood of microbial growth.
• Steam Volatile Oil: Measures the amount of water insoluble steam volatile oil present in a prepared sample. In many products, volatile oil is an indication of product quality.
• Total Ash: Measures the amount of carbon-free ash present in a prepared sample. This test can give an indication of the quality and purity of a product, as all organic material will burn off leaving dirt, silica, etc.
• Acid Insoluble Ash: This test measures, after total ash, the amount of acid insoluble ash present in a prepared sample. This test gives an indication of the quality and purity of a product.
• Heavy Metals: This test measures metallic impurities in a prepared product sample. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific metal.
• Pesticides: This test measures the amount of pesticide residue that a prepared sample contains. No product may exceed the tolerances that have been set for each specific pesticide. We aim to provide pesticide free ingredients!

Microbiological

• Total Aerobic Plate Count: This test allows for the detection and enumeration of aerobic microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.
• Yeast and Mold: This test allows for detection and enumeration of yeast and mold microorganisms. This test gives an indication of the cleanliness of a product microbiologically.
• Coliform: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Coliform.
• E. Coli: This test allows for detection and enumeration of E. Coli bacteria.
• Salmonella SPP: This test allows for detection and enumeration of Salmonella Bacteria.

For Our complete Frequently Asked Question, visit our FAQ Page for all your answers.

Are your products certified organic?

Unless stated on the product page, all products are conventional or wildharvested. Products that are organic will have the USDA logo. 

Do your products contain "fillers"? 

What many people refer to as "fillers" are actually excipients. Our products use excipients, or freeflow agents, which are inactive substances used as a vehicle to deliver an active substance.Freeflow agents are commonly used in a number of products and serve a variety of benefits such as to prevent caking, deliver a consumable efficiently, and more. 
NutriCargo uses maltodextrin as a free-flow agent for its powdered extracts.

Why do some of your products contain maltodextrin?

Maltodextrin is a free-flow agent derived from corn. NutriCargo uses non-GMO corn-based maltodextrin and is used as a free-flow agent to help our extracts remain in powdered form, making our extracts easy to measure and easy to use.

Could I use your products to treat my ailments or diseases?

Our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Nutricargo, LLC. and it's employees are not licensed medical practitioners and therefore cannot by law give medical advice. Furthermore, information found on this site is for informational use only and is not to be taken as medical advice.

What’s the difference between 4:1 powdered extracts and standardized extracts?

A 4:1 powdered extract means the product is 4 times more concentrated than its regular powder counterpart. If the product has a percentage, the number indicates how much of the ingredients active compound is present for every 100 grams consumed.