When it comes to quality CBD products, it's essential to know what ingredients are in them. To help ensure you are purchasing a high-quality CBD product from a reputable brand, it's important to review documentation that shows that you’re getting what is advertised on the label.
From tinctures to topicals to edibles, the array of CBD products on the market is practically endless. The global CBD market size was valued at $7.71 billion last year. However, the industry's rapid growth has also brought many sub-par products.
In fact, a study by Johns Hopkins Medicine revealed that only 89 (85%) of the 105 tested products listed the total amount of CBD in milligrams on the label. Of the 89 products, 16 (18%) contained less CBD than advertised, 52 (58%) contained more CBD than advertised, and 21 (24%) were accurately labeled.
So, how can you be sure you’re getting quality CBD from a reputable brand? It’s simple. Look for a certificate of analysis.
What Is a CBD Certificate of Analysis?
A certificate of analysis is a comprehensive report provided by an accredited laboratory, outlining the chemical composition of a substance, specifically in the context of CBD products. Typically, each batch of CBD undergoes individual testing, resulting in the generation of a COA for every production cycle.
The vast majority of CBD certificates of analysis are conducted by independent third-party labs. Consequently, consumers often perceive COAs issued by manufacturers themselves as having the fox guard the hen house. Fortunately, numerous accredited laboratories offer CBD testing services, enabling manufacturers to offer consumers impartial CBD analyses.
Why is a CBD Certificate of Analysis Important?
A CBD COA holds paramount importance in helping ensure transparency, safety, and quality within the booming CBD industry. As consumers increasingly turn to CBD products for various health and wellness needs, the COA serves as a crucial tool for informed decision-making. By providing detailed information about the chemical composition of a CBD product, including the levels of cannabinoids, terpenes, and potential contaminants such as heavy metals, pesticides, and residual solvents, the COA helps empower consumers to make educated choices about the products they purchase and consume.
The COA also offers reassurance of product authenticity and compliance with regulatory standards. Additionally, it fosters trust between manufacturers and consumers, as it demonstrates a commitment to accountability and quality control. Ultimately, the accessibility of COAs promotes consumer safety and confidence in the rapidly expanding CBD market.
5 Steps to Reading a CBD Certificate of Analysis
- Check the Laboratory: Ensure that the laboratory conducting the tests is reputable and adheres to recognized standards, such as ISO/IEC accreditation. This accreditation signifies compliance with industry benchmarks for testing reliability and accuracy, providing you with confidence in the validity of the results.
- Interpret the CBD and THC Readings: To interpret the CBD and THC readings on the Certificate of Analysis (COA), one should convert the numerical values provided on the COA to percentages by dividing by 100, ensuring accuracy in verifying the potency of the CBD content.
- Cannabinoid and Terpene Profile: Take a closer look at the detailed breakdown of cannabinoid and terpene levels provided in the COA. Compare these findings with the information stated on the product label to confirm consistency and accuracy. This step helps you to be able to make informed decisions based on the product's actual composition.
- Heavy Metal Analysis: Prioritize your safety by reviewing the results of heavy metal testing included in the COA. Detecting the presence of heavy metals, such as lead or mercury, is crucial as their ingestion can pose serious health risks. By ensuring thorough testing for these contaminants, you can confidently select products that prioritize purity and safety.
- Pesticide Analysis: Guard against potential exposure to harmful pesticides and herbicides by confirming the inclusion of pesticide testing in the COA. These analyses assess the presence of any pesticide residues, ensuring that the CBD product meets stringent quality standards.
Fun Fact: Our inventory management system meticulously records every order alongside its corresponding batch, enabling us to readily provide customers with information about the specific batch their product originated from. Moreover, in the unlikely event of a need for a recall, we possess the capability to efficiently trace and retrieve any product associated with a particular batch.
The lost range.® Difference
At lost range.®, we test every batch of products we manufacture. Our products receive independent third-party lab testing to identify the potency and microbial; plus, our bulk CBD/CBN/D9 gets full panel testing per state requirements, which include potency, microbial, heavy metals, and pesticides - helping ensure product consistency and providing total transparency to our customers.
Our CBD products are derived right here in Colorado. The hemp is grown under the Colorado sun by local farmers who help ensure a pure product. The hemp is also extracted here in Colorado and those extracts are then used in our small batch, handmade CBD products. Our products are truly full-circle, supporting an array of local Colorado small businesses.
Questions about our products or processes? Contact us here.
Final Thoughts
Unfortunately, not every CBD manufacturer is a quality producer. That’s why it’s so important to be educated and informed about CBD products and their ingredients. As companies start to rely on CBD certificates of analysis as their way to demonstrate the quality of their products, it’s essential to understand them and know what to look for.
