Rhodiolife, a Rhodiola rosea ingredient produced by Nektium and supplied by PLT Health Solutions, received Non-GMO Project verification, which covers the raw materials, manufacturing processes, and logistics behind Rhodiolife’s production.
 
The raw materials of this ingredient are sourced from the Altai Mountains in Siberia, through a sustainable cultivation program. In April 2023, per international trade requirements, Rhodiolife’s raw material became compliant with CITES, an international treaty.
 
Non-GMO verification is part of the ongoing process to strengthen consumer trust in an ideal ingredient, according to Devin Stagg, chief operating officer at PLT Health Solutions.
 
“Rhodiolife has been a leading, premium form of Rhodiola for decades, with a reputation for sustainability and consistently high quality. Nektium has made moves in the last two years to up the bar on the value this ingredient offers product developers and consumers. We can point to significant sustainability achievements, regulatory compliance, traceability, enhanced delivery via water solubility and lab verified quality as some of these efforts,” he said. “Our non-GMO verification with the non-GMO Project helps to underscore the clean label nature of this ingredient.”   
 
An Emblem of Trust
 
Ingredient identity, traceability, transparency, and consistency are the hallmarks of a premium ingredient in the nutraceuticals market, Stagg noted.
 
“The Nektium ID Assessment program includes multiple identity tests on every batch of Rhodiolife, including macroscopic and sensorial analysis, development of chromatographic profiles, and independent DNA barcode analysis to ensure authenticity of the raw material,” he said. “The material is then standardized to provide precise levels of key bioactive compounds, rosavins and salidroside. The resulting HPLC ‘fingerprint’ of the Rhodiolife extract is consistent from batch to batch and matches that of the native root. It is that kind of attention to detail that defines what a premium ingredient can be and is our commitment to our customers.
 
“Authentication is especially important when adulteration is suspected. Recently, the American Botanical Council’s Botanical Adulterants Prevention Program suggested that high demand for Rhodiola rosea has led to it being mixed or interchanged with other Rhodiola species before being exported from Asia.”
 
The Non-GMO Project is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to building and preserving the non-GMO food supply. Its product verification program evaluates products for compliance with the Non-GMO Project standard. This standard is a consensus-based document crafted with insight from a number of industry experts, reflecting a range of perspectives. The Non-GMO Verified product list now exceeds 60,000, and is one of the fastest-growing labels in the retail sector.