Do USANA products contain animal by-products?
By Jackie Khor
USANA makes every effort to avoid using ingredients that contain animal products or by-products. However, it has not been possible to entirely eliminate such ingredients from our nutritionals.
Small amounts of gelatin are associated with the beta-carotene, lutein, and vitamin D used in our tablets. This gelatin is added by the primary manufacturer of these raw ingredients, and is used to form the materials into dry, flowable beadlets. This beadlet form is necessary for the materials to be incorporated into dry tablets, and it is essential for long-term stability. The gelatin used for the CoQuinone 30, E-Prime, Palmetto Plus, and BiOmega gelcaps is derived from beef and/or pork.
Currently there is not a reasonable alternative to the gelatin used in the gel-capsules. There is such thing as vegetable derived gel-caps, but the technology for these gel-caps is not yet sufficient to maintain the standard of quality and stability that are necessary for our products. Vegetable capsules are very brittle, crack easily, and thus, have a very poor shelf life. Vegetable capsules are also difficult to use in filling machines because of their fragility.
USANA continually researches methods to improve our products. If, in the future, vegetable-based capsules achieve better results, we may consider using them in our product line.
The gelatin used in our products is certified to be from BSE-free (Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy) sources by the manufacturer.
As a simple breakdown for the products:
- Mega Antioxidant: small amounts of gelatin-beadlets for the beta-carotene, mixed carotenoids, and vitamin D. (Any quality tablets with beta-carotene, carotenoids, or vitamin D will have gelatin beadlets. If they do not, they are not even worth taking as these elements are extremely unstable.)
- Chelated Minerals (Multimineral): no animal by-products
- Body Rox and Usanimals: beta-carotene and vitamin D in gelatin beadlets
- Proflavanol and Proflavanol 90: no animal by-products
- CoQuinone 30: capsule
- TenX Antioxidant Blast: no animal by-products
- Hepasil DTX: no animal by-products
- OptOmega: no animal by-products
- BiOmega: fish oil, capsule
- E-Prime: capsule
- Poly C: no animal by-products
- Active Calcium: vitamin D gelatin beadlets
- BodyRox Active Calcium Chewable: gelatin beadlets, honey powder
- Procosa II: most commercially available glucosamine sulfate is derived from the outer shells of crustaceans. It is highly processed and purified, leaving no remaining animal constituents.
- PhytoEstrin: no animal by-products
- Palmetto Plus: capsule
- Visionex: lutein gelatin beadlets
- Ginkgo-PS: no animal by-products
- Nutrimeal and Fibergy: whey protein (Strawberry and Chocolate Nutrimeals) and a small amount of sodium caseinate (a milk derivative)
- SoyaMax: no animal by-products
- Nutrition Bars: Iced Lemon Fibergy Bar (kosher fish gelatin); Oatmeal Raisin & Peanut Butter Crunch (whey protein [milk])
The only ingredients in the Sense products that would be considered animal by-products are the beeswax in the Intensive Hand Therapy, and glucosamine HCl, which is ultimately derived from chitin, a compound found in the shells of shellfish. It is highly processed, however, and once it has been extracted and purified it does not contain any residual animal ingredients or protein.
Glucosamine HCl is found in the Eye Nourisher, Perfecting Essence, Serum Intensive, and Night Renewal.
Click below to see the range of Usana products
http://www.besttruehealth.com/Usana-Nutritional-Supplements.pdf