Ageless® Oxygen Absorbers

Natural products have four sworn enemies: heat, light, moisture, and oxygen. In addition to a product's effectiveness, each one of these four elements can, in its own unique way, threaten the freshness of even the most exceptional dietary supplements. As a leader in manufacturing safe, effective natural products, NOW has implemented many processes that make it possible for us to bring you the industry's freshest natural products. The use of Ageless® Oxygen Absorbers has proven to be one of the most effective. Ageless® Oxygen Absorbers consist of small packet inserts that are placed in a bottle during the packaging process. They work by absorbing any oxygen that is present while it is being filled with tablets, capsules, or Vcaps®. During storage, Ageless® packets continue to remove oxygen that may diffuse through the walls of the bottle.

As the first manufacturer to recognize the importance of incorporating these effective oxygen-absorbing inserts, NOW has been able to significantly reduce the presence of oxygen within our products. This success has been evidenced by tests that show almost complete elimination of oxygen within our PETE bottles. These inserts effectively extend product shelf life while maintaining freshness, taste, aroma, and texture. Ageless® packets are especially important for protecting powerful antioxidants.

One of the reasons why NOW is so adamant about how we deal with oxygen involves the long term threat that it presents to all natural products. Just as humans need oxygen to breathe, aerobic bacteria and mold require oxygen to grow and replicate. Without it, they are about as helpless as we would be without it. When they have the amount they need, they are in prime position to grow and thrive off the contents of the product in question. In order to help control microbial growth, oxygen levels should be kept as low as possible.

NOW takes other measures to control the amount of oxygen within our products. These other measures, coupled with our Ageless® Oxygen Absorbers significantly reduces oxygen levels at the time of packaging. NOW includes Ageless® Oxygen Absorber inserts in products that have a history of being the most susceptible to oxygen degradation.

Start with Fresh Raw Materials

Long before the testing, packaging, or shipping phases of manufacturing, NOW products begin their journey to the shelves as raw materials. But as we have learned over the past 40 years, not just any raw materials will do. We go to great lengths to seek out and select only the best raw materials in the industry. We do not accept ingredients that do not meet our strict quality standards. Over the years, the relationships we've forged with our vendors have helped us learn the value of choosing raw materials wisely, how they affect the integrity of finished products, and the best ways to go about the selection process.

Climate Controlled Storage

The storage of raw materials is an equally important phase in ensuring product freshness. Each raw material has its own unique storage requirements before being used in the manufacturing process. If they are oil, for example, must be stored in a cool, climate-controlled atmosphere. Exposing this delicate oil to excessive heat is a sure fire way to induce rancidity, long before it makes it to health food stores. To help guarantee freshness throughout the expiration date, NOW pays close attention the specific climate requirements of all raw materials. Under certain circumstances, some raw materials must be frozen in order to ensure not only freshness, but survival as well. Probiotics are an excellent example. Probiotics are living organisms that are extremely sensitive to heat and moisture. Frozen storage is essential in to order to ensure the efficacy of products that contain these, and other raw materials. NOW QC specialists see to it that anything requiring frozen storage is stored promptly and accurately.

Product-Specific Packaging

Packaging is nothing short of an industrial art that extends far beyond the realm of filling bottles with capsules, tablets, and liquids. It is a complex series of procedures that must be carried out with absolute precision, all the time, without exception. Even the slightest error, overlooked detail, or miscalculation can jeopardize the finished products, impede productivity, and result in expenses that are as unnecessary as they are exorbitant. How natural products are bottled can play a vital role in some of their most distinguishing attributes; these include shelf life, freshness, efficacy, taste, appearance, taste, odor, and texture. A significant part of NOW's commitment to product quality revolves around packaging our products in bottles that will maximize their effectiveness and shelf life.

Nitrogen Flushing

Oxygen is one the most damaging elements when manufacturing natural products. In order to reduce oxygen exposure levels, NOW conducts nitrogen flushing on many products, including foods such as flours, nuts and seeds. As the package is being filled with product, nitrogen is blown in to expel oxygen from the container. This offers additional protection against bacterial growth, while safeguarding the beneficial properties and freshness of the foods. Antioxidants are one of the very best examples. The nature of products such as Vitamin C, Green Tea, Alpha Lipoic Acid, and others is to counter the effects of cellular oxidation. Exposure to oxygen, especially within a closed or sealed container, can have a very negative effect on how well a food product maintains freshness over time. The process itself is very similar to the concept of filling a car's tires with nitrogen. Nitrogen has been shown to improve durability, increase product lifespan, and boost overall performance. NOW utilizes this same technology to ensure that our products are as fresh as the day they were manufactured.

Desiccants

Desiccants are another common insert used for products with moisture sensitivity. The majority of herbal products contain desiccants in order to control the moisture levels until the package is opened. A stronger moisture control insert is a molecular sieve. Several NOW® probiotic formulas utilize molecular sieves, considering how vital a moisture-free environment is to their survival. Consumers may also find additional inserts, such as cotton or charcoal, to protect the integrity and aroma of tablets.

Individually, each of these Quality Control measures serves as an effective way to secure product freshness. Collectively, they amount to one of the most advanced and trusted freshness-preservation systems in the natural product industry. Looking forward, NOW will continue to explore innovative new ways to bring you natural products of the absolute highest quality, safety, and freshness.