7 Questions to Help You Find a Trustworthy CBD Ingredient Company
Major brands who want to create CBD-related product lines must first identify a CBD ingredient partner they can trust. But that can be challenging with an industry that currently lacks federal regulation and clear standards for quality control.
The key is finding a CBD ingredient company who is committed to being a safe, open, and trustworthy business. To help you accomplish that, here are seven questions to raise as you vet potential CBD ingredient partners.
1. Are they registered with the FDA?
Technically speaking, cannabinoid ingredient companies are not required to register with the FDA—yet. But what is the significance if they are an FDA-registered company?
First, it signifies their commitment to maintaining an open and honest business. More specifically, it indicates the confidence they have in their operations; FDA-registered companies open themselves up to the possibility of unscheduled, unannounced FDA inspections.
That speaks volumes to the attention they have likely put into their internal safety protocols and quality assurance program.
It’s for reasons like these that Palmate is registered with the FDA.
2. Are they certified?
Find out if the company has relevant certifications. The FDA established Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs) to ensure the safety of consumable products. A cannabinoid ingredient company that adheres to GMPs will maintain higher standards in its food safety management system.
But as you consider ingredient partners, make sure they don’t just claim GMP compliance. Verify that they have achieved actual GMP certification. This demonstrates that the company has gone through an intensive evaluation from an authorized third-party auditor.
In fact, being GMP certified is a good start for demonstrating a commitment to safety and quality. But here at Palmate, we believe cannabinoid ingredients companies should do more.
That’s why we’re not only GMP certified but are also certified with the Brand Reputation through Compliance (BRC) Global Standard. As a BRC-certified company, we’re one of just a few cannabinoid ingredient companies in North America with a certification recognized by the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI)—and the only one in the state of Florida.
3. Do they offer ingredients that are superior to other options?
Let’s turn to the ingredients themselves. Not only are there a myriad of me-too products available on the market right now, they vary widely in how they ultimately perform in finished products.
Take, for example, water-dispersible CBD powder. Since CBD is an oil-based substance, successfully incorporating CBD into a water-based beverage comes with unique formulation challenges.
When you talk to a potential CBD ingredient supplier, it’s imperative that you ask questions like these:
- Is the water-dispersible CBD ingredient taste-neutral?
- What is the potency of the dispersible CBD ingredient?
- How bioavailable is the active CBD ingredient?
- How shelf-stable will the finished product be?
- Does the CBD ingredient enable accurate, consistent labeling?
Palmate takes these factors seriously. That’s why we’ve developed a groundbreaking formula for a taste-neutral, high-potency CBD powder that disperses rapidly.
4. Are their ingredients verified and tested throughout the manufacturing process?
Another aspect to consider related to CBD ingredients is the extent to which those ingredients are tested prior to sale.
The quality of the CBD ingredient should be verified at every stage of the production process, starting with the source hemp all the way through post-production of the final ingredient.
As an example, Palmate’s hemp partners must undergo a stringent vetting process to validate agricultural practices and post-harvest test results, ensuring that all hemp material meets our high standards.
We then implement a Quality Management System that includes an integrative Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) plan. More specifically, for every step of our production process, our in-house laboratory performs a full array of analytics to ensure ingredient integrity and purity.
Finally, all ingredients go to an ISO/IEC 17025:2017 accredited third-party laboratory for external testing.
5. Do they have an open door policy?
Factors like official certifications and verified ingredient information are crucial. But don’t discount the significance of an open door policy. A trustworthy company will make it clear that you have an open invitation to visit.
And when you do, you’ll want to do more than sit across a boardroom table. You should be able to, for example, tour the lab and production facilities as well as observe production methods.
Palmate invites all of our clients to our facilities so they can gain a firsthand experience of our company, our production processes, and the protocols we have in place for safety and quality.
6. Do they avoid unsubstantiated claims?
CBD ingredient companies can show their trustworthiness not only by what they say and do but also by what they won’t say and do.
Unfortunately, some companies in the CBD space are violating FDA regulations by making disease claims about what CBD can do to relieve or “cure” various conditions and illnesses. This not only hurts the companies themselves but damages the reputation of a burgeoning industry that shows great promise.
Palmate has a multi-step review process to help ensure our content does not contain possible disease claims.
7. Do they act legally?
Despite the current regulatory gray area, not all the legal lines related to CBD are blurry. The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018 (also known as The 2018 Farm Bill) exempted hemp and hemp-derived substances from the list of Schedule I drugs under the Controlled Substances Act.
That’s made it legal to produce and consume hemp-derived CBD that contains less than 0.3% tetrahydrocannabinol (THC)—a major step forward for the hemp industry.
However, some companies are exploiting legal ambiguity to, for example, produce and sell intoxicating marijuana products promoted as “hemp-derived” products. These activities likely cause market confusion and prolong an unjustified association between CBD and marijuana.
Palmate is not interested in seeking possible regulatory loopholes. We are focused on elevating the status of CBD’s wellness potential, committed to working within the current legal framework, and dedicated to producing safe, high-quality ingredients.
Your next move: start a conversation
If you want to position yourself for significant growth and long-term viability in the CBD product market, you should be seeking a partnership with a qualified CBD ingredient company now. The criteria above can help you in your search.
And if you’re ready for the next step, we recommend reaching out to Palmate today.
