ANN ARBOR, Mich.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--NSF, a leading public health and safety organization, has certified their first-ever company to the BeVeg Vegan certification standard. Ecuadorian Rainforest, located in Clifton, New Jersey, has received the Vegan certification for its manufacturing facility and 199 products, validating claims that they are Vegan, free from animal ingredients, and cruelty-free.
“We’re excited to announce that Ecuadorian Rainforest is the first company in the world to receive certification to the BeVeg Vegan certification standard through NSF,” said AJ McCardell, Senior Managing Director of Product Certification, Global Food Division, NSF. “The BeVeg Vegan certification states that these Ecuadorian Rainforest products are truly Vegan as determined by NSF, a third-party, independent organization.”
Ecuadorian Rainforest has provided natural ingredients from South America and beyond for over 20 years. Founded by Marlene Siegel in 1997, the company now has over 1,000 fruit, herb, marine, spice, and vegetable ingredients all under one roof. Ecuadorian Rainforest puts its natural ingredients through rigorous quality-control processes to ensure they meet high-quality standards.
"Ecuadorian Rainforest is committed to providing quality, certified ingredients that ensure product integrity while meeting market demands. BeVeg Vegan certification reaffirms our commitment to supplying natural and sustainable Vegan ingredients in an ever-evolving marketplace,” said Steve Siegel, Vice President of Ecuadorian Rainforest. "NSF was able to guide us through the rigorous Vegan certification process and confirming that we met the standards of this globally recognized Vegan certification program."
To earn BeVeg Vegan certification, Ecuadorian Rainforest had to complete a rigorous five-step process, verifying that each of its 199 products does not contain any animal ingredients, by-products, or GMOs used in the manufacturing and ingredient sourcing of the finished product. NSF also validated that the products came from a manufacturing facility audited to confirm proper controls are in place (including cross-contamination prevention), no animal testing was conducted, and that the products are considered cruelty-free, and free from animal exploitation.
The certified Vegan products, manufacturing facility, and related marketing materials can now bear the BeVeg Vegan trademark to show consumers that they are officially Vegan.
NSF’s BeVeg Vegan certification program is available worldwide to manufacturers, brands, and retailers in the areas of food and beverage; personal care products; textiles and fashion; and dietary supplements. The Vegan certification is based on the BeVeg Vegan technical standard. BeVeg International holds ISO/IEC 17065 accreditation to offer the BeVeg Certification and is considered a global conformity assessment program recognized in accordance with ISO 17067.
Businesses can also bundle the BeVeg Vegan certification with other NSF and Quality Assurance International (QAI) certifications, such as non-GMO, organic, gluten-free, and kosher, among others. Ecuadorian Rainforest, for example, has worked with QAI, an NSF company, to achieve organic certification for its organic products.
Learn more about Ecuadorian Rainforest and NSF’s Vegan product certification.
For media inquiries, please contact Anj Oto at media@nsf.org.
About NSF
NSF is an independent, global organization that facilitates standards development to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment. With operations in 180 countries, NSF tests and certifies products for the food, water, health sciences, and consumer goods industries. Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a Pan American Health Organization and a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre on Water Quality, Food Safety, and Medical Device Safety.
About Ecuadorian Rainforest
In 1997, Ecuadorian Rainforest LLC opened its doors as a supplier of all-natural fruit, herb, marine, spice and vegetable ingredients from South America and Beyond. Today, Ecuadorian Rainforest remains one of the industry’s most reliable suppliers of all nutraceutical ingredients.
