STARWEST BOTANICALS
Starwest Certified Kosher Vegetable Glycerine
Starwest Certified Kosher Vegetable Glycerine is an amazing product whose unique combination of properties have made it useful in a wide variety of applications. It is a clear, colorless, thick liquid with a naturally sweet taste. 100% food grade, vegetable glycerine is derived from palm oil by the process of hydrogenolysis, which removes the fatty acids, leaving pure vegetable glycerine. Metabolized in the body like a carbohydrate, it is easily digested, and its warm sweet taste makes it an excellent substitute for sugar. It is extensively used in the preparation of coffee and tea flavors, and as an ingredient in soft drinks.
Glycerine is also used as a humectant, a penetrant, and a softening agent. An effective ingredient in massage preparations, glycerine provides a soothing effect, making the skin supple, while offering a protective action. The emollient and lubricating properties make it very effective for dry and scaly skin. It can be also used as an agent in cosmetics, toothpaste, shampoos, soaps, herbal remedies, pharmaceuticals and other household items. It also acts as a solvent in extracting botanical properties from plant materials (without the use of alcohol).
Statement of Quality
Superior quality has always been the goal at Starwest Botanicals. To fulfill customers' expectations for high quality products, Starwest continues to upgrade its quality control facilities and processes. With our modern equipment and professional personnel, we have made a commitment to continued excellence in product quality.
Commitment
Starwest is dedicated to providing the freshest and purest botanicals. We strive to offer only those herbs and spices with verified quality. All of our products emerge from the combined efforts of everyone at Starwest - from our expert purchasers, to experienced lab technicians and machine operators, to our service-oriented, knowledgeable sales staff.
Purchasing Expertise
Our quality begins with the knowledge and experience of our raw material suppliers from around the world. We purchase herbs and spices from domestic growers and import them from over 20 countries. Direct purchasing ensures that the integrity of our products is consistent and the finest quality available. Our buyers are botanical and herb experts who work closely with our quality control staff, before and after the products arrive, to continually monitor our raw materials. We audit all suppliers yearly to assure they meet our GMP requirements.
Controlled Processing
Our integrated, modern milling, blending, and packaging facilities give us total control in providing the correct particle size for cut and powdered herbs (see below for a description of plant parts and product forms). Thorough inspection and cleaning during the milling process insures that the finished product will meet our stringent specifications for quality and cleanliness. At each stage of production, our quality control staff inspects and approves each product before it is allowed to proceed to the next process.
Laboratory Analysis
Our professional staff continuously monitors product quality to ensure customer safety and satisfaction. Retained samples from all shipments are thoroughly tested and compared to our extensive reference library of dried herbs and botanicals to verify authenticity. All lot samples are kept for five years and can be traced for verification.
Starwest utilizes not only our in-house laboratory, but also independent labs and consultants to guarantee our analyses are complete. Testing includes organoleptic analysis for aroma, color, flavor and texture. Physical testing involves moisture, volatile oil content, heavy metals, microbiology, thin layer chromatography, and other tests specific to each herb.
Independent Auditing
Starwest’s facility is inspected annually for good manufacturing practices by the American Institute of Baking (AIB), from whom we recently received a score of “Superior.”
