When you eat in a restaurant, it’s natural to assume the establishment follows safe food handling practices. When you purchase a product, like shampoo for example, you likely trust the manufacturer not to use harmful ingredients that could damage your health or your hair. You are asked to continuously place your trust in numerous industries, knowing that reputable companies routinely test their products to ensure quality, safety, and reliability.
In many industries, quality control standards are mandated. In others, the requirements are not as clearly defined. Therefore, it’s up to product manufacturers to take the initiative to ensure the health and safety of their customers.
We take our responsibility to our valued customers quite seriously. All CBDistillery™ products are sent to an independent third-party lab to ensure the products you select are pure, potent, and safe for consumption.
What is CBD Lab Testing?
CBD lab testing is the practice of sending products to an independent testing facility. At the lab, products are tested by an unbiased third-party to assess cannabinoid content and verify that products have not been contaminated during any phase of the manufacturing process.
The Importance of CBD Testing
Hemp-derived CBD is extracted from the stalks and stems of industrial hemp plants. Industrial hemp is known for its ability to absorb heavy metals, chemicals, and other toxins from soil and water as it grows. That’s why it’s essential that the products we offer are tested for purity. It’s our responsibility to ensure your safety. We also believe consistent third-party testing and sharing results provides:
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Transparency
Transparency is particularly important in the CBD industry. We believe every person should have the ability to verify the products they select are of consistent quality and safe to use. People should know what they are paying for. We post third-party test results so our customers know they can trust our products.
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Accuracy
There are far too many reports of companies selling poor quality products at premium prices. As a result, it’s apparent that many people are purchasing hemp seed oil believing they are getting CBD. Since hemp seed oil does not contain CBD, third-party testing allows consumers to verify the accuracy of product descriptions.
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Potency
Reputable CBD manufacturers use third-party test results to verify the potency of their products. Customers who have access to test results can confidently purchase their favorite products knowing the cannabinoid content is consistent with manufacturer claims.
What is CBD Tested For?
Third-party testing facilities screen products for chemical contamination, heavy metals, and bacteria. Test results help product manufacturers optimize their processes and identify areas that may need improvement. CBD products are commonly tested for:
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CBD Levels
Many companies sell hemp-derived products that contain significantly less CBD than specified on products labels. Third-party test results allow manufacturers and their customers to verify that CBD content is consistent with product descriptions. Tests results also reveal the presence of any additional cannabinoids including CBDA, CBG, and THC.
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THC Levels
THC is the cannabinoid found in cannabis plants that causes intoxication.1 To be classified as industrial hemp, our government has specified that hemp and hemp-derived products must contain 0.3 percent THC or less. Third-party testing ensures products fall within legal limits and will also provide verification that CBD products marketed as 0 % THC are accurately represented.1
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Shelf Life
Product stability or shelf-life testing defines the extent a product changes over time. The process involves a collection of analytical data based on product ingredients, composition, processing, and packaging.2 Companies can use this data to ensure their products have the longest shelf life possible.
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Contaminants
Heavy metals are not the only contaminants that could find their way into CBD. Third-party labs also test products for contamination from mold growth, yeast, E.coli, salmonella, and residual solvents.3
CBDistillery™ Lab Test Results
CBDistillery™ was one of the very first (if not the first) manufacturers to provide customer access to the third-party test results of every product offered. We made that decision because we want our customers to feel confident about purchasing CBDistillery™ products. You can find all of our lab test results posted within the images of every product we offer. You can also access this information by scanning the QR code on every CBDistillery™ product label.
What to Look for When Purchasing CBD
CBD product descriptions and manufacturer claims are helpful but don’t necessarily tell the entire story. An unfortunate number of companies are selling low-quality products at premium prices. You can protect yourself from misleading claims when you know what to look for when purchasing CBD. The following suggestions could help you make an informed purchasing decision:
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Third-Party Test Results
Any company could claim their products are third-party tested, but a company that values transparency will allow their customers to view product test results. To ensure the reports are unbiased, testing should be completed by an independent third-party facility.
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CBD to THC Ratio
There are two potential sources of CBD, marijuana and hemp. The significant difference between the two plants is the CBD to THC ratio. CBD derived from industrial hemp will have a high CBD to THC ratio. You may want to look at the third-party test results to confirm your full-spectrum CBD contain 0.3 percent THC or less, and that 0% THC products do not contain detectable levels of the cannabinoid.
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CBD Content
The CBD (cannabidiol) content of the products you purchase should always be specified in milligrams (mg). You can use third-party test results to confirm products contain the amount of CBD specified by the manufacturer. By confirming CBD levels, you will know that the hemp oil products you select are extracted from the aerial plant parts, not the seeds. Hemp seed oil does not contain CBD.
The Verifiable Quality of CBDistillery™ Products
When purchasing CBD, look for manufacturers willing to verify the purity and potency of the products they sell. Since any company can claim their products are third-party tested, it’s important that you reserve your trust for companies that allow you to verify those test results.
At CBDistillery™, we have full control over every aspect of product production, from the planting of our non-GMO hemp seeds to the distribution of our quality products. As a leader in the CBD industry, we were also one of the first companies to give our customers full access to third-party test results.
For CBD tinctures, capsules, topicals, and CBD vape products visit CBDistillery™. Our products are tested by the leading accredited lab in the cannabis industry to ensure they meet the quality and safety standards established by the Colorado Department of Agriculture and the production standards required for US Hemp Authority™ certification.
Additional Sources
- Live Science. (2017 May 18) What is THC?
- Midwest Laboratories. (2018) Shelf-Life Testing: Understanding the Basics.
- ProVerde Laboratories. (2018) Industrial Hemp/Cannabidiol (CBD).
The post CBDistillery™ Lab Results: Why We Lab Test our CBD Products appeared first on #CBDMOVEMENT™ BLOG.