Global Healing's Commitment to Clean & Transparent Sourcing
Deborah Kurth, Global Healing’s Procurement Manager, explains the process from soil to supplement
The supplement industry has entered a new era. Consumers are beginning to play a more active role in their health – they read ingredient lists more closely, ask about sourcing and testing, and demand honest, factual information [1].
We at Global Healing applaud this shift. You have the right to know exactly what you’re putting into your body. Health-based companies should defend that right out loud and behind closed doors. One of the many ways we do that is through traceable, ethical, and transparent ingredient sourcing.
In this special Q&A with our procurement manager, Deborah Kurth, you’ll get the full story behind our raw ingredient sourcing.
How is Global Healing’s approach to sourcing different from other companies?
When I first started here four years ago, I met with [founder] Dr. Group to discuss my background. Previously, I had been with a contract manufacturing company that worked with many customers, and every one of them wanted to have the best product until they saw the cost.
Dr. Group said to me, “We don’t shop by price. We shop by quality.” That resonated with me. I had never, ever heard that in the 30 years I’d been working in the industry. I never had anybody come forward and say, “I’m looking for quality and I’m not concerned about the price.”
Why is ingredient transparency so important in the supplement industry today?
In the news and industry trade publications, we regularly see ingredients being adulterated or failing identification tests. We see similar trends within the food industry, with products being recalled regularly.
It’s imperative that we are honest with consumers and provide answers, that we source from reputable companies, and we do our due diligence to ensure we are procuring the correct ingredients. It’s not just about reputation; it’s about safety.
Where do you begin when looking for a supplier?
When new formulas come together, I meet with the research & development, production, and executive teams. We discuss which materials we need and where we might want to source them. We rely heavily on the Organic Integrity Database to research prospective suppliers and make sure they have all the certificates and paperwork we require.
How do you filter through all the available suppliers on the Organic Integrity Database?
We start by sending a vendor qualification form to get contact information for quality personnel and copies of their certifications to ensure they’re valid and current. Then, we bring in raw material samples to start the internal paperwork – spec sheets, safety data, certificates of analysis (COA), etc. Finally, our quality department sends the samples out for third-party testing to make sure they match what’s on the vendor’s spec sheet and COA exactly.
Are you involved in building relationships with our farmers and suppliers?
Yes, I attend trade shows throughout the year where I can meet several vendors at once. We have partners who visit our manufacturing facility and offices in Phoenix, Arizona, at times.
I’ve visited a couple of farms here in the United States as well. Last year, we went to Oshala Farm in Oregon, where they grow and process everything on-site. They move fresh herbs into big barns for drying, and then they chop up the plants, or sell them whole, or make them into a powder. We get to see everything they do for us from start to finish, and it’s amazing.
Would you say it’s important to build good relationships in your line of work?
It’s critical. The supply chain can be very erratic, growing conditions fluctuate everywhere. A lot of things aren’t as readily available as they used to be. In the past, we could put out a purchase order and receive it within a week or two. Now, we aren’t always notified when suppliers are out of stock. When delays happen, you have to be able to pick up the phone and talk to someone immediately.
Thankfully, Global Healing has such a wonderful name in the market as far as paying on time. We have a good reputation with everybody. I think that’s why people are more responsive to us.
How do you address customer concerns about hidden additives or fillers?
The quality department will reach out to me if a customer asks specific questions about where an ingredient comes from, what the starting material was, if we have preliminary testing results… We do have all that information available, and we are very forthcoming with it. Anybody who wants to review it, that information is there for them.
What steps should consumers take to ensure their supplements contain safe and effective ingredients?
Know who you are buying from, where they manufacture their products, and what else they produce in that facility. It’s easy to create a website claiming to be a reputable manufacturer or brand, but that’s not always the reality once you dig below the surface.
You deserve to know exactly what you’re putting into your body, where it comes from, and how it’s made. If you have questions, ask us. Our Customer Success Team is here to give you real answers. No runarounds. No vague claims. Just Pure Transparency. (Se habla Español).
References (4)
- Callaghan, Shaun, et al. “The Trends Defining the $1.8 Trillion Global Wellness Market in 2024 | McKinsey.” Www.mckinsey.com, 16 Jan. 2024, www.mckinsey.com/industries/consumer-packaged-goods/our-insights/the-trends-defining-the-1-point-8-trillion-dollar-global-wellness-market-in-2024.
Posted in: Nutrition > Supplements,
Dr. Edward Group, DC
FOUNDER | HEALER | ADVOCATEDr. Group, DC is a healer and alternative health advocate, and an industry leader and innovator in the field of natural health who is dedicated to helping others. He is a registered doctor of chiropractic (DC), a naturopathic practitioner (NP), and proud alum of Harvard Business School and MIT Sloan School of Management. Dr. Group, DC is the founder of Global Healing – a mission and vision he has shared through best-selling books and frequent media appearances. He aims to spread his message of positivity, hope, and wellness throughout the world.
