Part 1: Hemp Testing Best Practices for Growers
Part 2: Hemp Testing Best Practices for Extractors
There are many steps to follow to ensure Hemp and Cannabis products are up to the standard of federal and state guidelines. Because Hemp products are becoming increasingly popular with the public for various reasons, such as medicinally, it is more important now than ever to ensure that the plant is thoroughly tested throughout each phase of its life. This includes testing at the farm, again through the extraction and production phases, and after it reaches the manufacturers, as well as
Though the U.S. has not yet passed a Farm Bill that requires detailed regulation of testing procedures, it is recommended that any Hemp product does not exceed a specific contaminant load and pathogenic bacteria. In the state of Florida, food products that have been infused with CBD will be “spot” checked by the internal state laboratory for contaminant loads and bacteria that may cause harm if ingested (for example Listeria monocytogenes). According to Kaycha Lab’s Compliance Manager, Shari Campbell, “There is specific testing for the different contaminants that must be followed, and state regulators dictate those exact limits. If the contaminant load of a product reaches a certain value, the product cannot go on the shelves or be purchased by consumers because it is deemed as dangerous to the public.” With this in mind, it is up to the manufacturers and final producers to test their products and ensure their quality does not exceed a specific contaminant load before passing it along to the consumer.
Strive to Produce a Safe Final Consumer Product
According to Campbell, testing with the manufacturer is one of the most crucial testing phases that the plant will go through. Because this is the final stage for the plant before reaching the consumer, attention to detail is essential to ensure the product’s utmost safety. In recent years, with the vast growth of popularity in the CBD and Hemp market, consumers have been pushing to ensure that the products they purchase have been thoroughly tested for an array of contaminants, not just potency. According to Campbell, “Manufacturers and final product producers are being charged, by the public, now to make sure that their products are safe for them when they ingest and or inhale their products.”
Thorough testing throughout this phase will not only provide accurate results to the manufacturer to know what’s in their product, but it also ensures that their product meets state and federal guidelines before being passed along to the consumer. The result is a final product that is safe for consumption without any harmful contaminants.
Because the plant often goes through another round of processing after reaching the manufacturer, it is essential to test throughout each phase. For example, the manufacturer may be producing Hemp products in various forms, whether it be tinctures, gummies, or cartridges. Having an awareness of the levels you have going into the process will ensure the most accurate and reliable final product. “Manufacturers will take the crude, the distillate, or the isolate that they receive from the processor, weigh it out, and then add that into their final product,” explained Campbell. “There’s math involved. They must sit down and do all these calculations. But to do the calculations properly, they rely on their sample being tested.”
Manufacturers who strive to produce a safe final product must rely on testing from a credible lab that will test for various contaminants, including pesticides, mycotoxins, heavy metals, and residual solvents. “Each final product has its degree of contaminants you must worry about,” said Campbell. For example, final products of vape cartridges heavy metals (such as lead) and residual solvents (such as ethanol) can be a concern; and for edibles, pathogenic bacteria such as Shigella Toxin-Producing E. Coli (STEC) can be concerning for the consumer if not thoroughly tested beforehand.
“Vape cartridges can be laced with a variety of contaminants,” explained Campbell. “As a consumer, the vape cartridge is used to inhale the product, but what we’ve seen (and has been published in articles) are heavy metals leaching into their products, which can be dangerous for the consumer.” Campbell continued, “As for gummies, one of the bigger issues is the microbial load. Because gummies are a sugar-based product, microbials are one the highest risk factor.” To ensure that the product is free of these contaminants and any other bacteria, thorough testing must take place before the product is deemed safe for consumption.
Whether it be cartridges, oil, or gummies, each final product has its risk factors with contaminate testing depending on what it is housed in or what it’s made out of. This is why it’s essential to have products tested before putting them on the shelves.
Testing with Kaycha Labs
At Kaycha, providing our clients with accurate and reliable results every time is what we’re here for. When you test with an accredited lab, you will be provided with full transparency regarding your results time and time again. When it comes to testing your product, the lab you choose will play a role in how accurate your results are and whether your product can be trusted when brought to the public. “Finding a lab that can provide you with reproducible, reliable results is key at this stage,” said Campbell. “Being able to identify that that product has no contaminants is essential, especially concerning the manufacturer, it’s their end-product, so it’s their reputation that consumers are going to be looking at.”
Our number one goal at Kaycha Labs is providing clients with reproducible results. Our team puts a lot of time, energy, and effort into validating methods and testing procedures. “Before we test your product, we go through extensive research and development to make sure that when we test, we are providing you the most accurate and precise results,” said Campbell.
At Kaycha, we believe our part in this industry is to keep people safe. “First and foremost, we’re doing this because we believe it is our job to make sure that our friends, families, consumers, and all those who inhale or ingest Hemp and Cannabis products are safe to do so,” said Campbell. When you test with Kaycha, you know that your results were obtained thoroughly and accurately, with consumer safety at the forefront. With testing facilities across the country, we can easily provide you with all of your testings needs every time.
Part 1: Hemp Testing Best Practices for Growers
Part 2: Hemp Testing Best Practices for Extractors
CANNABIS TESTING
