Zero One, also knowns as Z1, has been identified as sodium hexametaphosphate, a new adulterant found in Chondroitin, according to a group of top U.S. scientists.

First found in 2013 by Aishan Li, director of research and development and quality control of Meitek Technology, the new adulterant Z1 posed no health risk. However, research concludes further findings are faulty.

After performing polarized light microscopy, elemental and infrared analyses of the suspect substance, Director of Flora Research Laboratories James Neal-Kababick, concluded with the team of scientists that “Z1 is an industrial chemical that is inexpensive and easily available. It is commonly used in detergent or as a water treatment agent, and is sold under the commercial name Calgon®.”

According to Synutra’s Weiguo Zhang, it is imperative that all responsible companies be proactive in ensuring the purity and identity of ingredients. Ranked as one of the top five best selling dietary supplements, totaling almost $1 billion dollars annually, the popular ingredient Chondroitin is often suspect, making it vulnerable to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulations.

Synutra stands by its high standards of purity, and began tracking  and monitoring chondroitin adulteration in the supply chain three years ago. “Of the known chondroitin adulterants identified to date, including sodium alginate, propylene glycol alginate sulfate sodium, and sodium hexametaphosphate, all can be separated out from chondroitin material by their difference in electrophoretic mobility,” said Zhang, who performed a part of the study in a Maryland research lab.

For more information, visit www.synutraingredients.com.