Standard Process Inc. Whole Food Supplements Since 1929.
Product FAQs
The most commonly asked questions about Standard Process and our products.
Are all the ingredients organically grown on the Standard Process Farm?
We organically grow the following crops regularly: alfalfa, barley grass, beets, Brussels sprouts, buckwheat, kale, kidney beans, oats, pea vine, and Spanish black radish. We purchase other organic raw materials when possible.
What is Standard Process' seed source–are they GMO-free?
All of the seeds we use are untreated and free of genetically modified organisms (GMO). We use certified organic seeds when available.
Why would a product look different from bottle to bottle?
Because of the variability in sources of natural and organic ingredients, color, texture, and odor may vary from batch to batch. However, the basic formula remains constant, and quality is ensured by repeat testing.
Why are honey, arabic gum, cellulose, and calcium stearate added to products?
Honey and arabic gum are used in our tablet manufacturing process. Cellulose is often used to give body to the powders. Calcium stearate, derived from vegetable sources, is used as a lubricant to help products release from the tablet and capsule machine tooling. No artificial flavoring is ever used.
Is your calcium stearate derived from hydrogenated oils? Is it safe for consumption?
The calcium stearate we use is derived from palm oil, which is a saturated fat, like cocoa butter, dairy fats, etc. It is approved by the FDA to be used as a lubricant and is generally recognized as safe for use in food.
If the capsules are not full, is there an adequate amount of product in them?
Electronically controlled capsule machines are continuously monitored to ensure that precise amounts of product are measured and enclosed in gelatin and/or cellulose capsules. Capsules are packaged by weight, not volume. Therefore, the denser the product, the less you will find in the capsule.
Is the gelatin used to make your capsule and perle products derived from animal material?
Yes, the gelatin is derived from bovine and/or porcine sources.
If my patient is concerned about gelatin consumption, is there any way for them to still receive the benefits of these products?
Yes, some patients have found it convenient to open the capsules and mix the contents into a food or beverage source, such as applesauce, yogurt, or a nutritional shake.
Are the gelatin capsules considered pareve/parve?
Yes. All of our gelatin capsules are certified Kosher or pareve/parve. Pareve/Parve is a classification under Jewish dietary law meaning the product has been processed so extensively that it can be considered to have been prepared without meat, milk, or other derivatives.
What are your capsule colors made from?
Mineral color compounds, such as titanium dioxide and iron oxides, are used to make the various capsule colors.
What does the "Best Used By" date mean?
The "Best Used By" information, located on all product boxes and on the neck of all product bottles, represents the date by which the product is best used by. This date should not be viewed as an expiration date, but as a guideline for when products are considered 100% potent. Products tend to lose potency over time, but may still be considered effective after this date. Standard Process only guarantees product potency up until the "Best Used By" date. Products are continuously tested to determine their shelf life. This testing has shown that certain products tend to have shorter shelf lives, which is reflected in the "Best Used By" date.
Are any of your products made with peanut ingredients?
Due to the frequency and severity of peanut allergies, Standard Process removed "peanut bran" from its products and substituted it with "rice bran." Peanut Butter StandardBar® will continue to be made with peanut butter.
Why do you have sucrose on your product labels?
The sucrose found in our products comes from natural sources such as beets and sugar cane. Sucrose, along with starch and arabic gum, is used to coat vitamin A and vitamin D (cholecalciferol), making them into a powdered form that helps prevent oxidation of these vitamins. The amount of sucrose in the actual product is very minimal.
Which of your products contain soy? Should I worry about an allergic reaction?
Some products contain soybean ingredients, such as soy powder, soy nuggets, and soy protein. Soybean lecithin, a source of choline and B vitamins, is found in other Standard Process products. It acts as an emulsifier, keeping water and fats from separating in foods. Soybean lecithin shouldn't contain soybean's allergenic protein; however, a trace amount might remain. Individual sensitivities to soy protein should be discussed with your patients.
What are the levels of mercury in Tuna Omega-3 Oil?
Every batch of tuna oil, which comes from skipjack and yellow-fin tuna found in the South Pacific Ocean, is assayed for nutritional composition and quality and safety. This testing is not only conducted by Standard Process, but also by the tuna oil supplier. The amount of mercury in Tuna Omega-3 Oil is less than 10 parts per billion.
What products contain shellfish?
Nutrimere® and Iodomere® contain conch. Glucosamine Synergy® contains glucosamine sulfate which is derived from crab shells. Please consult the product labels for the complete ingredient listing on each product.
Should Standard Process tablets dissolve in water or vinegar?
Standard Process tablets were developed to be digested/dissolved by the hydrochloric acid in the stomach or digestive tract. All products do meet the standard disintegration levels set forth by the United States Pharmacopeia (USP). Water and vinegar are not good models for how the stomach digests foods.
How much lactose is found in Zymex® Capsules or Zymex® Wafers?
Zymex® Capsules contain approximately 192 mgs of lactose per capsule. Zymex® wafers contain approximately 220 mgs of lactose per wafer. This is equivelant to approximately 2% of the lactose found in one 8-ounce glass of reduced fat milk, which has approximately 11,000 mgs of lactose.
Does the nutritional yeast in Standard Process products cause yeast infections?
Nutritional yeast, S. cerevisiae, is not pathogenic and does not cause candida or other yeast infections.
Why is it recommended that some Standard Process supplements be chewed?
Some Standard Process supplements are designed as chewables for those who cannot swallow capsules or tablets. Once they are chewed, taste bud receptors tell the brain what is entering the digestive system. Tasting is considered the first stage of digestion, when salivary secretion enzymes are activated.
Which Standard Process supplements should not be chewed and why?
A Zypan®, Betaine Hydrochloride, and Cal-Amo® should never be chewed because the acids may cause potential damage to tooth enamel. Chlorophyll Complex™ Perles will temporarily stain the teeth and turn the tongue green.
What allergens might be found in Standard Process products?
Our products are processed in a facility that manufactures other products containing soy, milk, egg, wheat, peanut, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. While we take every precaution to avoid cross-contamination, there may still be some allergen residue. Please read our labels carefully for any possible allergens before recommending supplements to patients that are sensitive to certain foods.
Does Standard Process have a list of gluten-free products?
There are a few reasons Standard Process does not label products "gluten free":
- Grains containing gluten, barley, rye, and wheat, are used in many of our products
- Presently there is no established "gluten-free" standard, but the FDA is in the process of addressing this issue
No two patients have the same sensitivity to gluten; therefore, nutritional counseling should be individualized and potential gluten allergies discussed before a patient takes any Standard Process supplement.
Since this is a complex issue, we encourage you to find out more by visiting relevant websites, such as www.celiac.com, which discusses gluten allergies and safe foods to eat for those sensitive to gluten.
What do I need to consider when recommending a combination of products?
Standard Process products work synergistically and support multiple aspects of health. In some cases, combined products can result in very high levels of certain vitamins or minerals. Where warranted, guidance is provided for individual products on the label and in this catalog via warnings and cautions.
Additional information about vitamin and mineral levels is provided through the "daily values" reported on the label. These values, set by the Food and Drug Administration, indicate how much of the recommended daily consumption of the nutrient is found in a serving. Several excellent resources detailing vitamin/mineral action and current knowledge regarding recommended levels are available online.
What support materials are available from Standard Process?
See our Literature and Marketing Tools order form for details.
- Brochures—help patients understand the benefits of specific Standard Process products and nutrition, clarify the whole food difference, and define our commitment to quality
- Display stands and inserts—create an informative patient display in your office using the stand, inserts, and brochures
- Marketing tools—bags, brochure holders, supplement boxes, etc.
- Posters—increase patient interest in products by displaying these in your office
- Product detail sheets—provide scientific references to explain how each whole food supplement supports your patients' health
- Purification literature—includes patient education and clinical tools focusing on our purification and post-purification programs.
- Scientific literature—details whole food research conducted by our Research and Development Department
- Videos—educates patients on a variety of health topics, including the benefits of whole food supplements
- Whole Food Nutrition Education Literature—provides a variety of materials to pique patient interest in whole food supplements