Salt Lake City, UT—The Natural Algae Astaxanthin Association (NAXA), headquartered in Salt Lake City, UT, has expanded its verification program to include retail product testing.



The program, introduced in 2015, puts astaxanthin materials through testing at independent labs to confirm that they are indeed derived fromHaematococcus pluvialisalgae. Testing includes the most advanced methods and the U.S. Pharmacopeia standards. In addition, the raw material’s certificate of analysis is also compared against assay content. Last, those wishing to partake in the program, use the NAXA Verification Program Seal and become a NAXA member company must pass a manufacturing facility inspection.

The new initiative—the NAXA Retail Testing Program—involves testing retail products to verify they contain natural algae astaxanthin derived fromHaematococcus pluvialisalgae. A similar process of independent analytical testing, label claims and content amount listed will be used. States the group in an official statement, “This process assures consumers and industry that they are using natural algae astaxanthin, which is the most researched and efficacious form of astaxanthin available.”

NAXA was founded in 2014 with the intention of promoting, protecting and educating others about the benefits of natural astaxanthin derived fromHaematococcus pluvialisin food and dietary supplements. As of May 2016, the group’s member companies are Algatechnologies, Alphy Biotech, BGG and Cyanotech.

Published on WholeFoods Magazine Online, May 12, 2016