Stability Testing Guideline

NSF International has introduced a new voluntary Stability Testing Guideline to help nutritional supplement companies make sure they have the necessary data to support expiration dating on product labels. The guideline outlines the science-based criteria necessary to support expiration dating in order to comply with the current Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for dietary supplements. The guideline suggests that nutritional supplement companies identify the physical, chemical and microbiological characteristics under long-term storage. It specifies that companies understand the impact of manufacturing, packaging, labeling, distribution and holding/warehouse processes may have on a product’s stability. Factors involved in stability testing include: dietary ingredient strength, chemical fingerprints, microbial growth, preservative content, moisture content, pH, viscosity and oxidation, among other parameters such as the product’s container-closure system. For further information: www.nsfstability.org