FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
Our omega-3 fish oils have been rigorously tested and uphold the highest standards for product integrity when exposed to controlled and uncontrolled light conditions in clear bottles. Our entire line of natural health products are subject to a robust stability testing program on an ongoing basis to ensure they support their shelf-life assignment and meet the ongoing scrutiny of regulatory and industry bodies including the Natural and Non-prescription Health Products Directorate (NNHPD)/Health Canada, Food & Drug Association (FDA), Australian Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) and USP (Unites States Pharmacopeia).
Because NNHPD mandates that supplements be labelled as “store in a dark place”, some consumers have expressed concerns about fish oil supplements packaged in clear bottles and exposed to light when stored on shelf. To address these concerns, an internal study was performed over a five-year period to test the quality and stability of encapsulated omega-3 fish oils stored in clear bottles and exposed to controlled and uncontrolled light conditions.
The results support the quality and stability of our products in their current packaging configuration. There was __no difference in quality and performance test measurements__ between samples of encapsulated omega-3 fish oil capsules in clear bottles exposed to uncontrolled light (both natural ambient and fluorescent lighting conditions) and encapsulated omega-3 fish oil capsules stored in dark conditions over a period of five years.
We are committed to ensuring that all of our natural health products meet the highest quality industry standards and the expectations of consumers. We continue to perform additional studies to supplement the data we’ve already collected regarding
We use recyclable plastic bottles for several key reasons related to product safety and sustainability.
With respect to product safety, the plastic bottles and caps we use are non-porous, which allows for an airtight seal and ensures that moisture and other spoilage contaminants do not enter the bottle. Like cellophane and cardboard, other lightweight materials have tiny pores that allow humid air to pass through, causing product quality to degrade. Using plastic bottles ensures that the product stays fresh from the time it’s made to expiry.
Sustainability is one of our core values. We take into account not only the materials used for our products, but also the resources used in the transport of these materials. Using lightweight HDPE and PET plastic bottles results in fewer fuel emissions during shipping and reduces the overall impact of our carbon footprint as compared to other materials. We’ve looked into glass bottles as an alternative for product packaging; however, glass can shatter in transport and is significantly heavier than plastic, resulting in increased fuel consumption, more greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and higher consumer costs.
At Webber Naturals, we are always looking for ways to reduce the impact our products and packaging have on the earth. As packaging technology improves, we will be moving toward reducing our impact even further.
All gelatin is from an animal source; since this ingredient is derived from collagen, a protein only found in animals, there is no plant-derived gelatin. Wherever you see the word “gelatin” on our labels, it always refers to an animal-derived ingredient. Our gelatin capsules are made from bovine (beef) sources unless specified otherwise. Where vegetable-based capsules are used, the terms “vegetarian capsule” and/or “carbohydrate gum” will appear on the label. Please note that we do not use porcine (pork) gelatin for our capsules.
We avoid gluten-containing ingredients in our formulations. Our labels have been updated with comprehensive allergen disclaimers, so you will see gluten disclaimed for our products along with the priority allergen, wheat, where applicable. If you have a product that does not disclaim gluten on the label, please contact our Product Information department by phone or email with your product’s UPC (bar code number), or NPN from the product page on our website so that we can verify the information. While gluten is not expected in any of our products, we would like to be as accurate as possible in the information we provide.
Products made for export often have a different look as compared to the North American products you’ll see on our website. Labelling for our export products is in accordance with government regulations in the destination country. Ingredients and formulations are often the same as what is used for our domestic products, so there is information on our website that applies to most of the Webber Naturals products you can purchase overseas. If you have any questions about a specific product, we’d be happy to help – please use the Contact Us form and provide your product’s UPC (bar code number) so that we can provide you with the most accurate information.
We produce licensed natural health products with label dosages and corresponding efficacy claims approved by Health Canada. Any increase in dosage beyond our label recommendation or other “off-label” use should be discussed with your physician since this would constitute medical advice.
For most products, recommended dosages are given for adults (18+ years). As a manufacturer of licensed natural health products, we are not able to offer medical advice or suggest treatment beyond our label information. For use of products where dosages are not listed for children or adolescents, we must recommend speaking with a physician to determine an appropriate dosage.
Several of our products contain certified organic and organically grown ingredients. Products containing these ingredients will be labelled accordingly. Although we are not able to provide a full complement of organic products, we are committed to using 100% GMO-free ingredients. As part of our Quality Control program, we have set up an in-house laboratory for GMO testing using the latest analytic methods in GMO detection for bioengineered genetic material and proteins.
Employing the latest analytic methods in GMO detection for bioengineered genetic material and proteins, we have confirmed that all ingredients in our formulas, including non-medicinal ingredients, are non-GMO. Our commitment to this challenge is demonstrated by the significant resources we have invested in an in-house laboratory solely dedicated to GMO testing. You will find GMOs disclaimed in the allergen disclaimer of product labels.
Our Quality Control department has confirmed that there are no peanuts in our formulations and we do not process peanuts in our facilities; however, we are not a “peanut-free facility” – this means that peanuts are permitted on site in staff areas, i.e., lunchrooms and offices.
In order to ensure our products are free of priority allergens, we gather information from each raw material supplier used to make our products about the allergenic products in their facility, production equipment, and within the raw material. A thorough evaluation is performed on all incoming raw materials for potential allergens.
WN Pharmaceuticals Ltd. does not conduct animal testing, nor do we employ outside firms to test our products on animals.
You may wish to check with your veterinarian about the use of our products to be sure that all of the ingredients are safe to use in dogs – it may be that some ingredients have not been fully evaluated for use as veterinary supplements. Unfortunately, we are unable to provide information regarding the use of our Webber Naturals products for pets.
We don’t certify any of our products as halal; however, many of our suppliers provide halal-certified ingredients. For any ingredient you would like us to check, please use the Contact Us form and provide your product’s UPC (barcode number) or a link to the product page on our website. We would be happy to let you know if any ingredient is rated as halal according to our supplier documentation. Please understand that we are not able to provide any certification for our products or ingredients.
Manufacturing for our products is done at our facilities in British Columbia, Canada.
The glycerin used throughout our product line is derived from vegetable sources of coconut and/or palm kernel oil. We do not use animal-derived glycerin for our products.
Many of our products are suitable for vegan diets. Here is a complete list of vegan products, we have recently added more comprehensive ingredient information on the product labels to make choosing a product easier. Those that are free of animal ingredients now state: Suitable for vegetarians/vegans.
Changes in urine colour to a darker or brighter colour are associated with intake of Vitamin B2 (riboflavin) supplements. This is something that happens to most people who use a B Vitamin Complex or Multivitamin formula and is not harmful in any way.