In this interview with Nicole Anderson, WishGarden Herbs’ Quality Control Manager, we go beyond the ingredient list to find out exactly what goes into each bottle of WishGarden’s herbal formulas when it comes to ensuring a safe, high-quality product!
Q. What is your role at WishGarden?
I am the Quality Manager, which means that I perform both Quality Assurance and Quality Control. On a daily basis, I ensure that my team has everything they need to ensure that what comes into the facility and what goes into the bottles is of high quality and is what it says it is. I also write SOPs (standard operating procedures) and supervise cleaning, processing and other operations as necessary. I’m basically there to make sure that everything we send out is safe for our customers.
I had no background in herbal medicine when I started at WishGarden, but I graduated from the University of Colorado with a degree in evolutionary and ecological biology, which has been helpful in this role. I’ve been working here for eight years now and actually started on the packaging line and worked my way up from there to Quality Manager!
Q. What is the difference between quality assurance and quality control?
Quality assurance is more about documentation and ensuring that we comply with all U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations. This also means ensuring that everyone we hire is properly trained. Quality control takes place more practically in the laboratory, where we actually test all our ingredients and products. We are responsible for identifying the herbs as they arrive and testing the formulas and packaging every step of the way.
Q. Many WishGarden herbs come from small and local farms. Are there quality control challenges associated with this, compared to more commercial providers?
We are happy to buy from local suppliers or from smaller, global suppliers, but they do not always have the experience or ability to send their material for testing before it reaches us. So in addition to our internal testing, we also send a large portion of our raw materials for third-party laboratory testing to check for any microbial issues. We also work with them on Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) education and FDA compliance.
Aminta, WishGarden’s body care specialist, with a shipment of fresh, local Arnica.
Q. Now the big question: How does the quality control process work from start to finish?
When we receive a batch of herbs, we first weigh them to ensure that it is the correct quantity that we ordered from the supplier. That can really vary! For example, we can receive 3,000 pounds of Yerba Santa at once because we use it in so many of our formulas (including Kick-Ass Immune Activator, our best-selling product). Other times we might receive two pounds of a rarer herb that we use sparingly in just one or two products.
We then confirm that the shipment contains the correct herbs. Of course, we know what they should be based on the certificate of analysis (if one is available), but we still make sure they are labeled correctly and that no other herbs or materials are mixed in. have identification specifications for all the herbs we use, which are stored in the same software we use for our inventory management, so when we receive something, it is entered into this program, which then gives us all the specifications for that specific plant.
If we cannot identify a batch of herbs or are concerned that they have been adulterated in some way, we send them to a third party laboratory for identification confirmation. We also send most of our herbs for third-party microbial testing.
Once we are confident that we have the right herbs and that there are no microbial issues, we perform our own quality control testing in our laboratory, which is located right next to production and packaging. One of the most exciting things we do internally is organoleptic testing, which is a fancy way of saying we test our products using our senses: sight, smell, touch and – of course – taste!
Hard at work in the WishGarden Herbs Quality Control laboratory.
We test everything from the raw herbs to the individual extracts and the blends to the final product that goes into the bottles, so everything is tested multiple times before it goes out the door and reaches the consumer. We also review all packaging, including the bottles and droppers and pump caps, and design the labels (including the beautiful artwork!) and ensure that they match what is actually in the bottles.
Q. Sounds pretty rigorous!
Absolute. We have a deep understanding of the expectations and specifications we must meet to ensure what goes into each bottle meets our standards and those of the FDA.
Q. Finally, what do you like most about working at WishGarden?
I would say: the community we have formed. I love my team and the entire WishGarden family. I have been able to make lifelong friendships with some of the people I have met here. They taught me so much about the herbal world and community.
Would you like to know more about WishGarden Herbs products or processes? View our frequently asked questions.
Interviewer Valerie Gleaton is a professional writer and editor. She holds a master’s degree in journalism from the University of Colorado Boulder, where she also earned a certificate in science and environmental reporting.
For educational purposes only. This information has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This information is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease, or to sell any product.
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