Soy lecithin is only used in USANA tablets as a minor constituent (about 0.0007 – 0.001 g/tablet) of certain tablet coatings. Additionally, no soy protein or typically allergenic soy compounds are present in soy lecithin.
Studies have concluded that soy lecithin is rarely an issue for those with soy allergies. That fact, combined with the miniscule dosage in the products, should not generally prevent someone with soy allergies from using the products.

Foodborne illness caused by microbes or pathogens is a common and costly public health problem. Each year, thousands of people are sickened by consuming contaminated foods or beverages. The young and the elderly are most susceptible to food borne contamination. Many different disease-causing microbes or pathogens can contaminate foods, so there are many different foodborne infections. By inhibiting the growth of microorganisms, preservatives help prevent outbreaks of food-borne illnesses.

Sodium benzoate is a salt of benzoic acid, which is naturally present in plant and animal tissues. It is a very effective anti-microbial and anti-fungal preservative. It is commonly used in foods, cosmetics, toothpaste, and pharmaceutical products because of its safety and effectiveness at very low levels.

Sodium benzoate has achieved US FDA GRAS status (generally recognized as safe) as a direct food additive. The FDA allows up to a 0.1 percent concentration of sodium benzoate by weight in foods and beverages. In toothpaste, a much lower concentration can completely prevent bacterial and yeast growth.

It is easily water soluble and doesn’t accumulate in the body. Sodium benzoate is metabolized and excreted in the urine within 24 hours—which contributes to its safety.

Critical Reviews in Food Science and Nutrition 2017 Sep 22;57(14):3084-3103. Benzoic acid and its derivatives as naturally occurring compounds in foods and as additives: Uses, exposure, and controversy.

 

Salt is used in the Usanimals for flavoring purposes. It is a purified sea salt.

Potassium sorbate is a mold and yeast inhibitor. Sorbic acid and potassium sorbate are compounds found naturally in some foods and berries (like blueberries). Potassium sorbate is generally recognized as safe as a direct food additive. It is commonly used in many foods including wine, cheese, yogurt, fruit drinks, dried meats, and baked goods. It is used in non-toxic quantities at which there are no known adverse health effects and it breaks down in the Krebs cycle into water and carbon dioxide. Not only does it have a very good safety profile, it is effective at preventing growth of molds and yeast which can have deleterious health effects, especially in children.

The individual ingredients that make up flavorings are proprietary and not made available to the public to protect research and innovation. The thought that saying “natural flavors” is just a way to hide unhealthy ingredients is very overly simplistic and untrue. Natural flavor must originate from plant or animal sources. Natural flavors do contain potentially some compounds as stabilizers, emulsifiers, carriers, etc. These other ingredients are crucial to the consistency, quality, and safety of the flavoring.

If information is needed about a potential allergen please contact us, and we can check with our suppliers for information on an ingredient-by-ingredient basis.

Natural citrus flavors (e.g. citric acid, malic acid) are common flavoring agents. They are often used to add tartness to tablets, especially chewable ones.

Natural caramel color is used in the Palmetto Plus capsules as an opacifying agent. This protects the active ingredients from exposure to light, and has the added benefit of making tablet appearance more consistent and uniform.

Modified food starch (dextrin) functions as a stabilizer and binder. It may also help improve tablet solubility and texture. It is produced from starch.

Microcrystalline Cellulose (derived from plant fiber) serves multiple functions in tablet formulas. It is commonly selected for its excellent properties as a binder and disintegrant.

Medium-Chain Triglycerides (MCTs) can be derived from coconut oil and much more readily digested, absorbed, and metabolized than either animal fats or vegetable oils (which primarily contain long-chain triglycerides). MCTs are an excellent delivery system for fat-soluble elements (vitamin E, CoQ10), especially for individuals with fat malabsorption disorders.