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Frequently Asked Questions

Product Questions

No. The particular DHA oil that is used in our products is extracted from algae without using hexane hence it is free of hexane.

No. Both DHA and DHA/EPA oils used in our products are extracted from algae without using hexane hence they are free of hexane. Most of the information on the internet regarding the use of hexane is either outdated or specific to a certain algae oil used in other food industries. The algae oil used in our products is specifically manufactured for dietary supplements without the use of hexane.

Below is the statement that was sent to us by DSM, parent company of Martek, regarding the DHA Oil and GMO. It clearly states that their DHA Oil, which is used in some of our products, is a non-GMO product:

DHA and ARA products produced by DSM Nutritional Products for use in infant formula, supplements, food and beverages, and animal feed are produced from organisms that are not genetically modified. No regulatory body or legal body considers DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA products to be comprised of or obtained from, genetically modified organisms.

All ingredients of DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA are in compliance with the European Commission’s requirements for non-GMO material. The European Commission’s policies and oversight of genetically modified organisms and their use in products are widely recognized as the most stringent in the world.

Most recently, the U.S. National Organic Standards Board (NOSB) determined that the DHA and ARA products produced by DSM Nutritional Products are not the product of genetically modified organisms or processes.  The NOSB is the citizen advisory board created by the U.S. Congress to oversee the most stringent non-GMO policy under U.S. Federal law.  Following a nearly 18-month review of DSM’s petition for continued use of its DHA and ARA products in certified organic products, NOSB, the leading organic authority in the world, conducted a four-day public meeting that included two days of public testimony.  The forum provided every interested party an opportunity to speak and included the testimony of many scientific experts.  The GMO issue was thoroughly reviewed through an open, public, and deliberate process. The NOSB determined, by a vote count of 12-2, that ARA from fungal oil and DHA from algal oil should be classified as “nonsynthetic” substances and reconfirmed their use in certified organic products.

In response to allegations during the meeting that the fungal and algal sources of DSM’s products were the product of genetic manipulation, the NOSB directed a question to the USDA’s National Organic Program (“NOP”) staff regarding the scope of its prohibition on such practices.  The government’s answer was unequivocal – the traditional breeding and selection methods used by DSM for its algae and fungi are accepted practices under the U.S. federal organic regulations that prohibit recombinant genetic technology.

Following the four-day public meeting, on December 2, 2011, the board voted, by an overwhelming majority, to recommend DHA from algal oil and ARA from fungal oil for inclusion on the National List of Allowed and Prohibited Substances. The NOSB also recommended that the classification of DHA and ARA on the National List be changed from synthetic to non-synthetic. The National List contains a specific list of substances that may be used in or on processed organic products.  The board’s recommendation rejected the claims that DSM’s products are the product of prohibited methods and ratified the existing U.S. policy to allow the use of algal  DHA in certified-organic food and beverage products.

There are claims that our products must be genetically modified because some of the patents protecting algal DHA and fungal ARA include language that refers to the use of recombinant DNA technology.  These claims are false. Patent claims are designed to be broad in order to provide protection against all possible methods that competitors might utilize to produce similar products. Patents that include protection for recombinant DNA technology are designed to prevent competitors from using recombinant DNA technology to create genetically modified organisms that mimic the naturally occurring, non-GMO organisms we discovered and use to manufacture our products. These patents, in fact, are actually preventing the use of GMO organisms by competitors who might wish to produce algal DHA and fungal ARA.

DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA are not the product of genetically modified algae or fungi and do not contain prohibited ingredients. The U.S. National Organic Standards Board and the European Commission standards regarding GMO’s are met. Individuals and organizations that continue to claim that DSM’s DHA and ARA products are GMO are misinformed or willfully ignoring the actions of the NOSB, the world’s leading organic authority.

DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA are sustainable, vegetarian and from non-GMO organisms.  In addition, they are free of ocean-borne contaminants and do not contribute to overfishing. DSM Nutritional Products is committed to responsible and sustainable processes and products and has a comprehensive program in place to monitor, evaluate, and continually improve our impact on the environment. We highly value our organic partners and believe that our products are consistent with the important values of the organic industry, including health and nutrition, quality, and sustainability.

Below is the response from DSM:

There are claims that the use of classical mutagenesis in the development of our products means that they are genetically modified. This is false. Classical mutagenesis is a method of plant breeding. The use of mutagenesis does not introduce any foreign genetic material to the plant organisms, but instead uses mutagens – for example, ultraviolet light – to increase the rate of mutation that naturally takes place in plant organisms.  Classical mutagenesis is not considered genetic modification by any legal or regulatory body and has been used for generations in agriculture.

Additionally, there are claims that DHA and ARA are microencapsulated and are therefore GMO because organic regulation prohibits the use of microencapsulation. This claim is false and based on misinformation. In December 2000 the USDA issued its Final Rule establishing the National Organic Program.  The Final Rule prohibited certain practices and methods in organic agricultural production. The list of “excluded methods” included irradiation and gene manipulation or modification.  In the Final Rule, the term “microencapsulation” was discussed in the context of methods commonly used to genetically modify organisms and it appears on the list of prohibited methods.  The prohibited method is a technique used for the encapsulation and direct incorporation of foreign heritable genetic material into a receptor cell to generate an organism with recombinant genetic material. DHA and ARA sold by DSM have never undergone genetic encapsulation. DSM Products does not now, nor has it in the past engaged in encapsulating genetic material within its algae or fungi.  In food processing technology “encapsulation” refers to a variety of practices that are used to provide enhanced protection for oils to prevent their oxidation and degradation during processing. This type of microencapsulation plays a major role in enhancing the shelf life of functional food and beverage products and is widely used in the food industry but has nothing to do with genetic engineering.

DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA are not the product of genetically modified algae or fungi and do not contain prohibited ingredients. The U.S. National Organic Standards Board and the European Commission standards regarding GMO’s are met. Individuals and organizations that continue to claim that DSM’s DHA and ARA products are GMO are misinformed or willfully ignoring the actions of the NOSB, the world’s leading organic authority.

DSM Nutritional Products’ DHA and ARA are sustainable, vegetarian and from non-GMO organisms.  In addition, they are free of ocean-borne contaminants and do not contribute to overfishing. DSM Nutritional Products is committed to responsible and sustainable processes and products and has a comprehensive program in place to monitor, evaluate, and continually improve our impact on the environment. We highly value our organic partners and believe that our products are consistent with the important values of the organic industry, including health and nutrition, quality, and sustainability.

The presence of herbs and herbal extracts , especially the fenugreek extract is the main reason for the noticeable smell. Our product development department thinks these herbs add important value to the product and hence wants to keep them in the formula despite the earthy, spicy smell. We hope this clarifies.

The algae oil used in our Omega-3 products is not derived from blue-green algae or spirulina nor does it come from wild algae harvesting. This particular algae species (i.e. Schizochytrium sp) is grown on land (outside of the ocean) using drinkable water. The algae oil ,from start to finish, is produced in an FDA-inspected USA facility, under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations with controls in place to ensure a high quality product.

The Glucosamine HCl used in our products does not contain any of the following known allergens as defined by the FDA:

Milk, Eggs, Legumes,Tree nuts, Wheat, Fish, Mollusks, Crustacean, shellfish.

It is non-animal derived and 100% vegan.

No. They are very different things. Our product does not contain sulfonamide antibiotics (aka sulfa drugs). It is important to make a distinction between sulfa drugs and other sulfur-containing products and additives, such as sulfates and sulfites, which are chemically unrelated to the sulfonamide group, and do not cause the same hypersensitivity reactions seen in the sulfonamides.

NO. The corn that is used to make our vegetarian glucosamine is Non-GMO (non genetically modified).

Usually sulfites are added to fermentations to stop the fermentation at a certain point, and is common in wine.  We have been asked this before, and it is appropriate to say we don't add sulfites like some wine makers to stop our fermentation.  We don't have a reason to believe they are there, but we do not test for them. Therefore we cannot say for sure it is free of sulfites.

It is also important to note that sulfites and sulfates are very different chemicals and should not be confused. 

A mineral based thickener (Silicon Dioxide) is added to the organic flax oil to prevent capsule leakage and hence to improve the stability of the oil. This addition of silicon dioxide creates a cloudy apperance and higher viscosity, which is normal and not a defect.

Deva Nutrition currently uses DSM Algae Oil in its DHA-EPA products. Sunflower Oil is added by DSM, the algae oil manufacturer, during their oil manufacturing process at levels between 1% and 15%, typically around 1%. It may be important to realize Algae Oil itself does contain some Omega-6 as part of its natural structure therefore no algae oil in the world can be 100% Omega-3. High Oleic Sunflower Oil, which is what is added to the algae oil by the oil manufacturer,  has more Omega-9 (Oleic Acid) and less Omega-6 than the regular sunflower oil.

Any brand DHA-EPA product (DEVA or not) that uses DSM's Algae Oil (a.k.a. Life's DHA) by default does contain some sunflower oil. Whether a company declares the sunflower oil on the product label or not is a different issue since some companies do not do it. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this subject.

Deva Nutrition uses DSM's DHA-EPA Oil in some of its products. Rosemary Extract is added as a flavoring by DSM ,the algae oil manufacturer, at levels less than 0.5% (less than half a percent).

DSM Algae Oil is a FDA GRAS (generally recognized as safe) class food ingredient. Prescription prenatal vitamins that contain DSM's Algae Oil are commonly recommended by physicians to pregnant women.

Any brand DHA-EPA product (DEVA or not) that uses DSM's DHA-EPA Oil (a.k.a. Life's DHA) by default does contain rosemary extract in minute amounts. Whether a company declares the rosemary extract on the product label or not is a different issue since some companies do not do it. We appreciate the opportunity to clarify this subject.

This phenomenon has to the with the natural makeup of the oil and exposure to cold/fluctuating temperatures. In other words, it is generally related to the storage and/or transportation conditions of the product. There are naturally occurring higher melting triglycerides and oleic acid in the algae oil we use, which may precipitate at low temperatures. For example, vegetable oils such as soy and olive oil have some solid fat crystallized at low temperatures (e.g. in the fridge) although this is not exactly the same phenomenon it is similar…The difference is that these crystalized fats, once formed, do not rapidly dissolve like olive oil in warm temperatures due to other excipients. If the bottles were shipped to the store or to you or even to the prior distributor in very cold weather or were kept at very cold temperatures in storage this could happen. For example, we have seen this happen to some bottles that were shipped in cold weather as well as some products that were shipped internationally by air cargo where the sudden drop in temperature caused this phenomenon. These specks can also develop if you keep your bottle in the fridge. It is not a safety issue however more of a cosmetic one. Some manufacturers, who know this potential issue with the algae oil, use completely matte softgels to mask this cosmetic problem but we currently do not. Our new softgels -although tinted in red color derived from tomatoes- are still clear and may show the changes in the oil. We hope this clarifies. 

 

 

 

 

No. The 1000 mcg DFE in our supplement is not too high for pregnant women. In fact, our prenatal product does not contain 1000 mcg of folic acid, it contains 1000 mcg DFE of folate (from 600 mcg of folic acid) per tablet. This change in our product labeling is due to recent changes made by the FDA to folate labeling requirements.

 

Under the revised rules, 600 mcg of folic acid must now be displayed on the Supplement Facts Table as 1000 mcg DFE.

 

In the past, FDA did not differentiate between folic acid and folate for labeling purposes. However, after the revision to the labeling regulations, FDA now requires companies to convert the amount of folic acid to Folate in mcg DFE (dietary folate equivalents). The FDA’s published conversion rate is 0.6 mcg folic acid = 1 mcg DFE. With that change in labeling, our product still contains safe levels of folic acid (i.e. < 1000 mcg of folic acid) per tablet as it did before the FDA changed the labeling requirement.

 

Please note that the Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) is based on folic acid (i.e. 1000 mcg) yet the new percent Daily Value guidelines are based on folate DFE, which is the main reason for this confusion.

 

Our product contains 600 mcg of folic acid, which is well within the upper tolerable level of 1000 mcg folic acid for pregnant women to consume.

For more information on Folic acid => DFE conversion and, Tolerable Upper Intake Level (UL) please see:

https://ods.od.nih.gov/factsheets/Folate-HealthProfessional/

 

 

Q. The Omega-3 softgels I received have a matte, dull appearance rather than the usual glossy red color. Are they OK to consume?

If your softgels look like the softgels in the picture below then this could happen under certain circumstances due to the presence of tapioca starch in the softgel. Although it does not occur under suggested storage conditions, tapioca softgels come with an inherent drying effect if the storage/shipping conditions are less than ideal. This could be potentially prevented with the addition of certain synthetic preservatives to the formula. However, since the presence of the "haze" is not a safety, potency, or functionality issue we have decided not to include any synthetic preservative in our product that would prevent this "haze". Below are the comments our Quality Control team shared with us about this observation: 

1.            What is appearing on the capsule (mild “haze”) does not impact the quality or safety of the product as this is a cosmetic effect. 

2.            The appearance of whiteness on the shell may be due to the capsule “drying” over time (due to the nature of vegetarian tapioca starch/powder).  

3.            Our recommendation is to keep the softgels in a controlled environment and keep bottles tightly closed after each use and not out of the container. 

4.            We tested the same type of products with and without “whiteness” occurring in the vegetarian starch gel for Micro and assay testing and the results were within the specification parameters

 

 

 

 

 

 

Q. I have tried making cheese/yogurt with your probiotic product but the milk did not curdle, does it mean it does not work?

It's important to note that not all commercially available Bacillus coagulans strains have the ability to curdle milk. The ability to curdle milk depends on the specific strain used and its fermentation properties. Bacillus coagulans is a soil-based probiotic that is known for its ability to survive in harsh conditions, such as the acidic environment of the stomach. There are literally dozens of strains of B. coagulans that have been studied by scientists and only some of them are suitable for cheese or yogurt making. We want to clarify that the probiotic strains used in our product are commercially developed and optimized for human ingestion, based on certain beneficial traits for gut health and overall well-being. These strains may not necessarily possess the specific properties required for yogurt/cheese-making purposes therefore being able to make cheese/yogurt with them is not indicative of their probiotic activity in the gut. The probiotic activity of a strain is determined by its ability to survive and thrive in the gastrointestinal tract, as well as its potential health benefits when consumed. To scientifically evaluate the probiotic activity of a product, several standardized and well-established methods need to be followed. These methods include in vitro tests simulating the conditions of the digestive system, as well as in vivo studies involving human trials. In vitro, tests can assess the tolerance of probiotic strains to acidic conditions, bile salts, and other digestive enzymes present in the gastrointestinal tract. These tests can give insights into the survivability of the strains during transit through the gut, which is a crucial factor in their probiotic effectiveness. On the other hand, in vivo studies involving human trials can provide valuable information on the health benefits associated with the consumption of specific probiotic strains. These studies often investigate changes in gut microbiota composition, improvements in digestive health, immune system modulation, and other potential positive effects. To better understand probiotic activity and its scientific evaluation, here are some reputable sources you can refer to:

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33896630/  and,

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and World Health Organization (WHO) - "Guidelines for the Evaluation of Probiotics in Food": http://www.fao.org/3/a0512e/a0512e.pdf 

We encourage you to explore these scientific resources to gain a deeper understanding of probiotics and the rigorous methods used to assess their activity. 

 

Questions about Production

It is true that animal derived gelatin was the only material to make softgels in the nutraceutical industry until very recently. Now the new technology allows us to make softgels from plant based ingredients. Our softgels do not contain any animal ingredients of any kind. They are 100% vegan. 

Our products do not contain alcohol (ethanol).

The Oleic Acid used in some of our products as an excipient is derived from Palm Oil and/or Sunflower Oil. Both are non-GMO sources.

Our liquid filled vegan products are made with two-piece hard-capsules that cannot be filled 100%. It is a technical limitation of the encapsulation machines used in this process. Softgels can be filled 100% but not these two piece vegan caps. This is simply a limitation of the encapsulation technology that affects the appearance but not the dosage. The advantage of this capsule filling technology is the fact that it allows us to make smaller batches compared to softgels. This enables us to manufacture specialty oils/liquids with less demand and, offer them to our customers.

THE STATED POTENCY ON THE LABEL IS ACCURATE. YOU ARE GETTING THE FULL DOSAGE. Using an analogy: It is like drinking 8 oz of water from a 12 oz bottle. 8 oz of water in a 12 oz bottle sure "appears" less due to the empty space but it is still 8 oz by weight. Same thing applies here.

The bubble in the capsule is NOT an air bubble either, on the contrary the bubble is made of nitrogen to flush out the air/oxygen from the capsule. We use nitrogen purging technique during encapsulation so that air/oxygen is removed from the capsule to achieve a shelf stable oil. 

 

P.S. For those consumers who do not know what nitrogen gas is: it is a non-toxic gas which makes up 78% of earth's atmosphere.

All of our products are manufactured in USA with domestic and/or imported parts. Manufacturing of tablets/softgels, encapsulation; testing of raw materials/finished products as well as bottling/packaging are all done in USA at FDA inspected facilities that follow GMP guidelines.

Our products come in recyclable HDPE, PET, or glass containers all of which are BPA-free.

Opening a Wholesale Account

YES. If your purchase order meets a set dollar amount* or more it automatically qualifies for FREE SHIPPING in the continental United States. However if you operate out of a residence we charge you back the Fedex or UPS Residential Area Surcharge fee, which is usually between $2 and $3. If your business is in a commercial zone then this fee does not apply. If you have any questions about Free Shipping please contact us.

NO. There is no minimum purchase amount that you have to meet. You can order any quantity, even one bottle. However if you would like to qualify for FREE SHIPPING then you need to order a set dollar amount* or more. To learn more about the FREE SHIPPING please contact us.

YES, however Fedex or UPS residential area surcharge is charged back to you. This fee is usually between $2 and $3 as determined by the courier. Businesses that are in a commercial location are not charged this fee.

No. Our company does not offer drop shipping at this time however we work with distributors that can do this for qualified resellers. Please contact us for further details.

If you already buy from a distributor and would like to continue to do so please call or email us. We will direct you to the distributors we work with.

If you would like to buy direct from us we are required by law to have a copy of your resale permit issued by the state you operate in and/or your business license of your clinic. Resale permit is sometimes called "sales tax permit" and issued by the state. Federal tax ID of your company cannot be used in lieu of a resale permit.

If you sell through a website please email us the url of your functional website. If you operate in a state that sales tax is charged then you still need to fax or email us the resale permit.

Our contact information is found here

Deva Nutrition has partnered with Emerson Ecologics  to serve the health professional market. If you are a medical doctor, naturopath, acupuncturist, chiropractor, nurse practitioner, veterinarian or another type of health practinoner please contact  Emerson Ecologics by calling (800) 654-4432 or visiting their website . You will be able to buy our products from Emerson Ecologics at wholesale prices.

To open an account with Emerson please visit https://www.emersonecologics.com/User/CreateAccount.aspx

MISC

At this time our company is not set up to sell direct to consumers. Please visit our Where to Buy page  to locate an online or brick&mortar store to purchase our products. We appreciate your interest.

Unfortunately our products are not available at Canadian  retailers at this time. You could however visit our Where to Buy page to see a list of US online stores / mail order companies. Some of these stores do ship to Canada.

Vegetarian VitaminsBodybuilding.com IHERB.COM

are just a few that have Canadian Shipping options. Please check with the retailer for shipping rates.

Our company has never tested and does not plan to test our products on animals directly or through third parties. Additionally, our products are registered with the Vegan Society, the UK based non-profit organization that invented the word "vegan". One of the many requirements of being able to register products with the Vegan Society is not testing on animals. Deva Nutrition is also a proud participant of PETA Business Friends, PETA Business Friends is an innovative partnership for compassionate companies willing to assist in PETA’s groundbreaking work to stop animal abuse and suffering. 

Absolutely!  Our wide selection of products offer great quality and value for health conscious customers whether they are vegan or not. Some choose our products because they have allergies to certain animal ingredients and some prefer our products because of religious reasons. A great number of our customers are loyal to our brand because of the quality, effectiveness and affordability they find in our products irregardless of their dietary choices. We appreciate all of our customers' support. THANK YOU!

*Information and statements regarding dietary supplements on our website have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and our products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Individual results may vary. By using this site, you signify your assent to this Terms of Use Agreement. If you do not agree to the terms and conditions contained in this Terms of Use Agreement , you may not access or otherwise use this site and its contents. Privacy Policy

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