Synutra International (Rockville, MD) President Weiguo Zhang announced the company’s latest steps in its proactive efforts to banish adulteration from the chondroitin supply chain.

The company named Jana Hildreth to the staff as director of technology and scientific affairs. Hildreth, who served as one of the AOAC’s Subject Matter Experts in Dietary Supplements, is also a member of the USP’s Adulteration Expert Panel (ADSDDA) and is the chair of the AOAC working group on Chondroitin, reported Synutra.

“Ms. Hildreth brings her extensive experience in and knowledge of the industry to our efforts,” said Weiguo Zhang. “Synutra Ingredients is committed to working with leading experts and scientists in the industry to develop and advocate meaningful testing methods to help keep the supply chain clean.”

Synutra reported working closely with the National Institute of Standards and Technology in developing high purity reference materials for use in their chondroitin proficiency testing program, reported the company, noting they have also been working directly with USP on developing a new monographs for the Calcium salt form of chondroitin in raw materials as an important step in achieving their overall goal of raising the bar on the testing in order to clean up the supply chain.

Chondroitin is often targeted for adulteration because chondroitin products are in the top five best selling dietary supplements, with annual sales of about $1 billion, and most chondroitin ingredient is sourced from overseas.

For more information, visit www.syntura.com.