How to get in touch

Feel free to reach out with any questions, comments, concerns, praise – we’re here to hear you out and help wherever and whenever we can.

Interested in working with us? Please reach out to sales@podfoods.co

Brands - Please reach out to brands@podfoods.co

Retailers - Please reach out to buyers@podfoods.co

ORDER + PAYMENT DATA

ORDER DATA

Download detailed sales data when you navigate to Orders > Fulfilled Tab > Export > Order Details in your Vendor Dashboard. Orders are not sales. Sales payouts are initiated on the 10th of the month after an order is fulfilled.

PAYMENT DATA

Download detailed payments data when you navigate to Payments > Monthly Statements > Month > Export in your Vendor Dashboard.

When these reports are requested they are emailed as an attachment

POD CAPITAL 

We’re here to support your growth. 

Need money for a new production run or to pay off business expenses? To support your growth, we have launched Pod Capital where you can apply for easy and affordable financing through a few simple steps via your dashboard. Click here to find out more and get access to capital now!

MAKING A CLAIM

Vendors may submit a claim via the dashboard
Retailers can submit a claim here

Please contact claims@podfoods.co if you have any questions

Customer Returns

Generally, customer returns are handled exclusively between the end-consumer and the retailer. However, there are occasionally retailer exceptions to this with Erewhon being the primary. In cases where a retailer receives a customer return and files a claim with Pod Foods requesting a credit for the product, Pod Foods will process a credit wherein the vendor is liable to the value of the credit covering the value of the returned product. The result is that the vendor statement is adjusted to reflect the credit processed to the retailer.

ACCOUNT CLOSURE

Steps on how to close your Pod account

Email brands@podfoods.co to give your 60 day notice required before closing your account. A representative will follow up with you to provide next steps.

FAQs

Why was the package delivered but on the website it is still marked as "pending fulfillment"?

Orders are marked as fulfilled when a POD is confirmed by our team. This can take up to 10 business days from ship date. Please see our Order Fulfillment Compliance Policy for additional information.

Are we able to charge the customer for shipping?

Brands are able to set their own wholesale pricing. For additional information please see our regional pricing section.

When will we be paid?

Please refer to Vendor Payout Information

What is the shelf life requirement to ship to retailers?

Please refer to Pod Direct Order and Payout Policy

The key words we use at Pod

APL (Approved Product List) - a list of products that are approved by a retailer.

Case Pack - wholesale unit distributed to retailers by Pod.

Case Stack - display strategy used by retailers in which cases are stacked on one another; consumers are meant to take cases from the top of the stack.

Case Stack Deal - a promotion offered by vendors to retailers; retailers must purchase a specified number of cases of product to receive a particular promotion.

Discontinued - refers to a product that is no longer available for distribution (if discontinued by the vendor) or retail sale (if discontinued by a retailer). Discontinued products are set to ‘Inactive’ on the Pod platform.

Distribution Center (DC) - a term used to describe a warehouse space utilized to pick, pack, and transport orders. DCs also receive inbound shipments and slot inventory for order fulfillment.

Eaches – see Units

End Cap - a merchandising space, normally reserved for promotions, located at the end of retail store aisles.

End Cap Promotion - a discount or deal applied to an end cap display.

Everyday Low Price (EDLP) - a term used to describe a consistently-priced product without a promotion applied

Expired - a term used to describe a product that has reached or exceeded its set expiration date. All products have an expiration.

Free Fill - a term used to describe a product sold at no cost to a retailer as an incentive to sell and continue to purchase a vendor’s product. Free fills allow retailers to test out a new product and offer the product at a discount to encourage consumers to try the item.

Freight on Board (FOB) - refers to the set of terms that determines who owns and pays for a shipment of products

GTIN (Global Trade Identification Number) - a number used by a company to uniquely identify all of its trade items; GTIN can be used to identify products at any packaging level, e.g. unit or case. GTINs are normally encoded in a scannable barcode (GS1, 2022).

Guaranteed Sale - refers to a contractual agreement through which a vendor agrees to take back unsold products at the end of a specified period. The vendor will be billed backed to ensure the retailer does not pay for unsold products.

In Stock - a term used to describe products that have sufficient inventory to fulfill outbound orders.

Item Code - a unique identifier for SKUs that helps retailers search products and order with ease. Item Code number is listed under each individual Published SKU in the Vendor Dashboard.

Launching Soon - a term used to describe a new product or SKU that shall become available to order in the near future. Previously referred to as “Coming Soon.”

Lead Time (Manufacturing Time) - days required to produce and initiate shipment of the requested amount of inventory from the date of request (not including transportation time).

Less Than Truckload (LTL) - refers to a freight service that allows multiple shippers to share a single truck given each load is not large enough to require the space of a full truck.

Lot Code - a unique identification number assigned to a specific and defined production period. Lot codes are used to identify manufactured goods and the chain of custody of their components t in the event of a quality or safety issue, such as a food recall.

Manufacturer Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) - a term used to describe the price at which a manufacturer/vendor recommends a retailer charge for the sale of the product.

Market Withdrawal - a firm's removal or correction of a distributed product that involves a minor violation that would not be subject to legal action by the FDA or which involves no violation (FDA,2020).

Master Carton - Outermost box containing Case Packs; goods at its largest quantity other than a pallet.

Merchandising - refers to the practice of presenting retail products in a visually appealing manner to entice customers and encourage sales.

Minimum Order Quantity (MOQ) - refers to the lowest number of units a retailer must purchase atone time; also refers to the lowest total order value required for a retailer to be exempt from a small order surcharge.

Minimum Order Value (MOV) - refers to the lowest order value a retailer must meet at one time; also refers to the lowest total order value required for a retailer to be exempt from a small order surcharge.

Out of Stock (OOS) - a term used to describe a product as temporarily unavailable to fulfill out bound orders due to insufficient inventory.

POD (Proof of Delivery) - refers to the physical document that shows an order has been successfully delivered. Normally in the form of an invoice or BOL. PODs must be signed by the receiving customer tobe a valid proof of completed delivery.

Pod Direct - Pod Direct Ship Distribution program wherein vendors list their products on the Pod catalog to capture sales. Vendors are responsible for packing and shipping orders directly to the buyer's address.

Pod Express - Pod wholesale and distribution program. Vendors store inventory on consignment at partnering Distribution Centers; DCs are responsible for picking, packing, and delivering orders to retailers.

Pod Service Fee - the percentage of sales deducted from the price the retailer pays for the product. Pod does not markup. The Pod service fee is calculated like a margin off the wholesale price.

Product/Inventory Withdrawal - refers to a vendor’s act of removing inventory from a Distribution Center. Withdrawals require an approved request and an appointment.

Promotion - a discount-based sales strategy used to promote larger reorders of a product by retailers.

Pull Date - the date on which a lot of inventory is pulled, or made unavailable to fulfill orders. The pull date is based on a product’s pull date threshold (see below).

Pull Date Threshold - refers to a set amount of time that, when reached, triggers a product to be pulled from active inventory. Once pulled, the inventory cannot be used to fulfill orders.

Recall/Product Recall - a method of removing or correcting products that are in violation of laws administered by the FDA (FDA, 2020).

• Voluntary Recall - Recall is a voluntary action that takes place because manufacturers and distributors carry out their responsibility to protect the public health and well-being from products that present a risk of injury or gross deception or are otherwise defective (FDA,2020)

• Mandatory Recall - refers to an FDA-mandated removal or correction of products that are in violation of laws administered by the FDA (FDA, 2020)

Replenishment MOQ - refers to the minimum amount of product (in cases) that a vendor must ship toa Distribution Center.

Sampling - refers to the process through which a retailer submits a request to try a new product. Sampling requests are fulfilled with individual retail units, not full cases.

Shelf Life - a term used to describe the length of time for which a product can be stored and consumed or used by a consumer before its quality and safety begin to deteriorate. All products have a shelf life.

Short Dated - a term used to describe a product that has less than 40% of its shelf life remaining. Short-dated product is usually refused by retailers at delivery.

Slotting/Slotting Fee - refers to the fee paid by a vendor to a retailer in order to stock the product on the retailer’s shelf.

Sorting/Sorting Fee - warehouse process occasionally required for inbounds that arrive with damages. Damaged cases are sorted and segregated from sellable cases. Sorting fees normally apply; fees vary by warehouse.

Stock Keeping Unit (SKU) - refers to a unique identifier for an item manufactured by a vendor and sold by a retailer. The term is commonly used to refer to a particular variation of a product.

Temporary Price Reduction (TPR) - a temporary decrease in price (promotion) for a predetermined period of time.

Traceability - a term used to describe the ability to track the origin and course of a lot, product, or ingredient.

Units - also referred to as eaches; units are singular pieces of product, normally the form in which consumers purchase an item. Pod and its Distribution Centers do not handle products in units; retailers receive multiple units as case packs and normally break down cases for merchandising.

Retailer Banned Ingredient List

Sprouts Vitamins and Supplements

• Benzophenone

• BHA

• BHT

• Butoxyethanol

• Chlorphenesin carbamate (muscle relaxant)

• Cloflucarban

• Cocamidopropyl dimethylamine

• Diazolidinyl Urea

• diethanolamine (DEA) complexes

• DMDM Hydantoin

• Emu Oil

• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

• Fluorosalan

• Formaldehyde and donors

• Hexachlorophene

• Hexylresorcinol

• Hydroquinone

• Imidazolidinyl Urea

• Iodine complex

• Iodophors

• Methylbenzethonium chloride

• MethylChloroisothiazolinone

• Methylisothiazolinone

• Microbeads

• Mineral oil

• Octyl methoxycinnamate

• Oxybenzone

• Parabens

• Phenols

• Phthalates

• Poloxamer-iodine complex

• sodium bisulfite/bisulfate

• Sodium diacetate

• Sodium oxychlorosene

• succinates

• TBHQ

• Tetrasodium EDTA

• Toluene

• Tribromsalan

• Triclosan

• Triple Dye

Sprouts HBA

• Benzophenone

• Benzyl Alcohol (synthetic)

• BHA

• BHT

• Butoxyethanol

• Chlorphenesin carbamate (muscle relaxant)

• Cloflucarban

• Cocamidopropyl dimethylamine

• Diazolidinyl Urea

• diethanolamine (DEA) complexes

• Siloxanes

• DMDM Hydantoin

• Emu Oil

• Fluorosalan

• Formaldehyde and donors

• Hexachlorophene

• Hexylresorcinol

• Hydroquinone

• Imidazolidinyl Urea

• Iodine complex

• Iodophors

• MEA

• Methylbenzethonium chloride

• MethylChloroisothiazolinone

• Methylisothiazolinone

• Microbeads

• Mineral oil (USP grade okay)

• Octyl methoxycinnamate

• Oxybenzone

• Parabens

• Petrolatum (USP grade okay)

• Phenols

• Phenoxyethanol (max level is 1.0%)

• Phthalates

• Poloxamer-iodine complex

• Sodium diacetate

• Sodium oxychlorosene

• sodium silcoaluminate

• succinates

• Talcum powder

• TBHQ

• Toluene

• Tribromsalan

• Triclocarbon

• Triclosan

• Triple Dye

Natural Grocers

GROCERY

• 2,3-butanedione (aka diacetyl)

• 2,3-heptanedione

• 2,3-hexanedione

• 2,3-pentanedione

• Ace K

• Acesulfame K

• Acesulfame potassium

• Acetoin (aka acetyl methyl carbinol)

• Acetyl methyl carbinol (aka acetoin)

• Acetylated esters of mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Active Agave™

• Advantame

• Aerosol sprays with chlorofluorocarbon

• Agave—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Allulose

• Aluminum ammonium sulfate

• Aluminum calcium silicate

• Aluminum-containing additives

• Aluminum potassium sulfate

• Aluminum sodium phosphate

• Aluminum sodium sulfate

• Aluminum sulfate

• Ammonium aluminum sulfate

• Ammonium chloride

• Ammonium phosphate (acceptable in beer and hard/spiked seltzer)

• Animal-free milk protein

• Anoxomer

• Antibiotic and antifungal food preservatives

• Antibiotics in animal food production

• Apeel™

• Apricot kernels (aka B-17)

• Artificial butter flavor

• Artificial emulsifiers

• Artificial fats

• Artificial flavors

• Artificial preservatives

• Artificial starch

• Artificial sweeteners

• Aspartame

• Astaxanthin—artificial

• Azo dyes

• Azodicarbonamide

• Benzoates in food

• Benzoic acid in food

• Benzoyl peroxide

• Benzyl alcohol

• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)

• BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)

• Bioengineered (BE) labeled foods

• Bleached flour

• Bovaer®

• Bromated flour

• Bromates

• Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

• BST (bovine somatotropin) in fresh dairy products, excluding dips

• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

• Butylparabens

• Caffeine or stimulant herbs added to boost caffeine content or have a stimulant effect—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Calcium bromate

• Calcium disodium EDTA

• Calcium paraben

• Calcium peroxide

• Calcium propionate

• Calcium saccharin

• Calcium sorbate

• Calcium stearoyl-2-lactylate

• Caprenin

• Caprocaprylobehenin (aka caprenin)

• Caramel colors II, III & IV

• Carmine

• Carrageenan—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• CBD

• Cell-based meat, poultry or fish

• Cell-based milk

• Cell-cultured meat, poultry or fish

• Cell-cultured milk

• Certified colors

• Chemically modified fats

• Cloned animals—dairy, meat, fish and seafood

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from high-oleic safflower or sunflower oil

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from palm oil

• Cottonseed oil

• CRISPR gene-edited foods

• Cultivated meat, poultry or fish

• Cultivated milk

• Cultured meat, poultry, or fish

• DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides)

• Diacetyl

• Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM) 

• Dilauryl thiodipropionate

• Dimethicone

• Dimethyl decarbonate

• Dimethylpolysiloxane

• Dimethylsilicone fluid

• Dimethylsilicone oil

• Dioctyl sodium sulfosuccinate (DSS)

• Disodium calcium EDTA

• Disodium dihydrogen EDTA

• Disodium guanylate

• Disodium inosinate

• Dodecyl 4-hydroxybenzoate ethyl paraben

• Dodecyl gallate

• Dough conditioners—chemical

• Edipeel™

• EDTA (ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid)

• Encapsulated acids—Grandmothered & Limited

• Encapsulated citric acid

• Encapsulated lactic acid

• Energy drinks that contain added caffeine and/or other stimulants, such as theobromine and gaurana

• EPG (modified plant-based oil)

• Erythorbic acid

• Erythrosine (aka Red #3)

• Esterified propoxylated glycerol (EPG)

• Ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Ethoxyquin

• Ethyl vanillin

• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

• Ethylparabens

• EverSweet™

• FD&C food colors

• Flour bleaching agents & chemical dough conditioners

• Foie gras

• Fresh dairy products from confinement dairies

• Fresh dairy products from cows given rBGH/rBST

• Fructose—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Fully-hydrogenated oils

• Glucose-fructose syrup

• Glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• GM (Genetically Modified) salmon or any other GM animal/seafood product

• GMO hemp

• GMO hormones (in fresh dairy products)

• GMO-produced stevia glycosides

• GMOs—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Growth promotants

• Guarana—added to food products

• Hepta-, hexa-, and octa-esters of sucrose (aka Olestra)

• Heptyl paraben

• Hexamidine diparaben

• Hexamidine paraben

• High fructose corn syrup

• Hydrogenated oil

• Impossible™ Burger

• Interesterified fats/oils

• Iron oxide—synthetic and non-synthetic

• Irradiated foods

• Isobutylparaben

• Isoglucose

• Lab-grown meat

• Lab-grown milk protein

• Lactylated esters of mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Lead soldered cans

• Lean Finely Textured Beef (LFTB)

• Legume-based protein with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Legumes with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Litesse®

• Magnesium silicate

• Malic acid—synthetic—Grandmothered & Limited

• Methyl silicon

• Methylcellulose—Grandmothered & Limited

• Methylene chloride

• Methylparaben

• Mica-based pearlescent pigments

• Mineral oil

• Modified food starches (modified corn starch, tapioca starch, potato starch, wheat starch, etc.)—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids—Grandmothered & Limited

• Monosodium glutamate (MSG)

• mRNA and/or genetically engineered vaccines – fresh and frozen meat, dairy, or egg products from animals vaccinated with an mRNA and/or genetically engineered vaccine

• Mycose (aka trehalose or tremalose)

• Natamycin (aka pimaricin)

• Natural flavors—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Necta Sweet®

• Neotame

• Newtame®

• Nisin

• Nitrates

• Nitrites

• n-octyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

• Non-animal whey protein

• Non-organic produce

• Oats with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Octyl gallate

• Oil, solvent extracted (as a stand alone ingredient)

• Olestra

• Organipeel™

• Oxystearin

• Parabens

• Partially hydrogenated oil

• Pea protein with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Peas with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Pentyl paraben

• Petrolatum

• Phenoxyethylparaben

• Phenyl paraben

• Phosphates

• Phosphoric acid

• Pimaricin (aka Natamycin)

• Pink Slime

• Polydextrose

• Polydimethylsiloxane

• Polyglycitol syrup

• Polysorbates (10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, etc.)—in foods

• Potassium aluminum sulfate

• Potassium benzoate

• Potassium bisulfite

• Potassium bromate

• Potassium butylparaben

• Potassium metabisulfite

• Potassium nitrate

• Potassium paraben

• Potassium propylparaben

• Potassium sorbate in food

• Propionates

• Propionic acid

• Propyl gallate

• Propylene glycol

• Propylene oxide (PPO) pasteurized almonds—All Natural Grocers bulk almonds, including trail mixes and the nuts used to make almond butter are PPO free

• Propylparaben

• Pure Via™

• Pyroligneous acid—artificial

• Ractopamine

• rBGH (recombinant Bovine Growth Hormone)

• Reb D (GMO derived)

• Reb M (GMO derived)

• Rebiana

• Red #3 (erythrosine)

• Resistant starch type 4

• RNA interference (RNAi)

• Saccharin

• Slaughter-free meat, poultry or fish

• Sodium aluminosilicate

• Sodium aluminum phosphate

• Sodium aluminum silicate

• Sodium aluminum sulfate

• Sodium benzoates

• Sodium bisulfite

• Sodium butylparaben

• Sodium diacetate

• Sodium erythorbate

• Sodium ethylparaben

• Sodium glutamate

• Sodium hexametaphosphate

• Sodium lauryl sulfate

• Sodium metabisulfite

• Sodium methylparaben

• Sodium nitrate/nitrite

• Sodium propionate

• Sodium propylparaben

• Sodium saccharin

• Sodium silicoaluminate

• Sodium stearoyl-2-lactylate (aka SSL)

• Sodium sulfite

• Sodium thiosulfate

• Sodium tripolyphosphate

• Solvent extracted oils as standalone ingredient

• Sorbic acid in food

• Soy leghemoglobin

• Soy protein with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• Soybeans with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• STA-LITE®

• Stannous chloride

• Steviol glycosides (GMO produced)

• Sucralose

• Sucroglycerides

• Sucrose acetate isobutyrate

• Sucrose polyester (aka Olestra)

• Sugar Twin®

• Sulfites

• Sunette®

• Sweet ‘n Low®

• Sweet One®

• Synthetic colors

• Synthetic fibers

• Talc (magnesium silicate)

• Tara gum

• TBHQ (tertiary butylhydroquinone)

• Tea and tisanes in tea bag wrappers made with petroleum-based plastic—Grandmothered & Limited

• Tea and tisanes in tea bags made with petroleum-based plastic—Grandmothered & Limited

• Tetrasodium EDTA

• Theobromine—as an added ingredient

• Titanium dioxide—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Toasted partially defatted cooked cottonseed flour

• Trans fats—man made

• Transglutaminase

• TREHA® (aka trehalose or mycose)

• Trehalose (aka mycose or tremalose)

• Tremalose (aka trehalose or mycose)

• Truvia®

• Ultramarine blue

• Undecylenoyl PEG-5 paraben

• Vanillin—artificial

• Vanillin or vanilla made from GMO microorganisms

• Wheat with glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

BODY CARE

• 1,4-benzenediol

• 1,4-dihydroxybenzene

• 2-Bromo-2-Nitropane-1, 3-Diol

• 4-hydroxyphenol

• Ace K

• Acesulfame K

• Acesulfame Postassium

• Acetone

• Acetylated esters of mono- and diglycerides

• Advantame

• Agave—added as a sweetener

• Alcloxa

• Aluminum**

• Aluminum and aluminum-containing ingredients that can be absorbed through the skin**

• Aluminum chloride

• Aluminum chlorohydrate

• Aluminum zirconium

• Aluminum zirconium tetrachlorohydrex gly

• Antibiotic-based soaps, body washes, wipes, toothpastes, and hand sanitizers

• Artificial flavors

• Artificial fragrances

• Artificial sweeteners

• Aspartame

• Avobenzone

• Benzalkonium chloride

• Benzethonium chloride

• Benzisothiazolinone (BIT)

• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)

• BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene, butylhydroxytoluene)

• Bismuth oxychloride

• Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

• Butyl benzyl phthalate

• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

• Butylparabens

• Butylphenyl methylpropional—Grandmothered & Limited

• Calcium paraben

• Calcium saccharin

• Certified colors**

• Chemical-Based Sunscreens

• Chlorhexidine gluconate

• Chloroxylenol (PCMX)

• Coal tar

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from high-oleic safflower or sunflower oil

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from palm oil

• Cyclic siloxanes

• Cyclopentasiloxane (D5)

• D&C color additives**

• D3 (hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane)

• D4 (Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane)

• D5 (Cyclopentasiloxane or Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane)

• D6 (Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane)

• DATEM (diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides)

• DBP (dibutyl phthalate)

• Decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5)

• DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide)

• DEHP (di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate)

• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

• DEP (diethyl phthalate)

• DHEA

• Di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP)

• Di (N-hexyl) phthalate

• Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM)

• Diazolidinyl urea

• Dibutyl phthalate (DBP)

• Dicyclohexyl phthalate

• Diethyl phthalate (DEP)

• Diisobutyl phthalate

• Diisodecyl phthalate

• Diisononyl phthalate

• Dimethyl phthalate (DMP)

• Dioctyl phthalate

• Dipentyl phthalate

• Disodium EDTA

• DMDM Hydantoin

• DMP (dimethyl phthalate)

• Dodecamethylcyclohexasiloxane (D6)

• Dodecyl 4-hydroxybenzoate Ethyl paraben

• EDTA - all forms

• Ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides

• Ethylparabens

• FD&C color additives**

• Formaldehyde & formaldehyde donors

• Glyoxal

• GMO-derived trehalose

• GMO hemp

• Heptyl paraben

• Hexamethylcyclotrisiloxane (D3)

• Hexamidine Diparaben

• Hexamidine paraben

• Homosalate

• Hydrogenated oils/fats—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Hydroquinone

• Imidazolidinyl urea

• Interesterfied fats

• Isobutylparaben

• Isopropyl alcohol**

• Isopropylparaben

• Isothiazolinones

• Kathon

• Lactylated esters of mono- and diglycerides

• Lilial

• Magnesium silicate (talc)

• Methanediol

• Methenamine

• Methylchloroisothiazolinone (MCI)

• Methylisothiazolinone (MI/MIT)

• Methylparabens

• Mineral oil, petroleum, & petrolatum

• Mono- and diglycerides of fatty acids (aka mono- and diglycerides)

• n-Octyl 4-hydroxybenzoate

• Necta Sweet®

• Neotame

• Newtame®

• Nisin

• Nonylphenol (NP)

• Nonylphenol ethoxylates (NPE)

• Octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane (D4)

• Octinoxate

• Octisalate

• Octocrylene

• Octylisothiazolinone

• Oxybenzone

• Oxystearin

• P-dioxybenzene

• P-hydroxyphenol

• Parabens

• Para-chloro-meta-xylenol (PCMX)

• Partially hydrogenated oil (source of trans fats)—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Pentyl paraben

• Phenoxyethanol—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Phenoxyethylparaben

• Phenyl paraben

• Phthalate esters

• Phthalates

• Phthalic acid

• Polyoxymethylene urea

• Potassium butylparaben

• Potassium paraben

• Potassium propylparaben

• Pregnenolone

• Propylparabens

• Quaternium 15

• Saccharin

• Sodium butylparaben

• Sodium ethylparaben

• Sodium hydroxymethylglycinate

• Sodium methylparaben

• Sodium propylparaben

• Sodium saccharin

• Squalene sourced from shark

• Sucralose

• Sugar Twin®

• Sunett®

• Sweet and Low®

• Sweet One®

• Synthetic colors**

• Talc (magnesium silicate)

• Testosterone cream

• Tetrasodium EDTA

• Titanium dioxide in lip and oral care products—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Toluene

• Trans fats—man made

• Triclosan

• Undecylenoyl PEG-5 paraben

• Urea, polymer with formaldehyde, isobutylated

• Vanillin or vanilla—made from GMO microorganisms

VITAMINS AND SUPPLEMENTS

• 2,3-butanedione (aka diacetyl)

• 2,3-heptanedione

• 2,3-hexanedione

• 2,3-pentanedione

• 7-KETO

• Ace K

• Acesulfame K

• Acesulfame postassium

• Acetoin (aka acetyl methyl carbinol)

• Acetyl methyl carbinol (aka acetoin)

• Acetylated esters of mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & LImited

• Active Agave™

• Advantame

• Agave—added as a sweetener—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• all-rac-alpha-tocopherol

• all-rac-alpha tocopheryl

• Allulose

• Animal-free milk protein

• Annona muricata

• Anoxomer

• Apricot kernels (aka B-17)

• Apricot seed

• Artifical butter flavor

• Artificial fats

• Artificial flavors

• Artificial sweeteners

• Aspartame

• BHA (butylated hydroxyanisole)

• BHT (butylated hydroxytoluene)

• Bitter Orange (Citrus aurantium)

• Brominated vegetable oil (BVO)

• Butylated hydroxyanisole (BHA)

• Butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT)

• Butylparabens

• Caffeine or stimulant herbs added to boost caffeine content or have a stimulant effect—Grandmothered & Limited

• Calcium disodium EDTA

• Calcium paraben

• Calcium propionate

• Calcium saccharin

• Caramel colors II, III, and IV

• Carmine

• CBD (limited as state law permits)

• Cell-based milk

• Cell-cultured milk

• Certified colors

• Chaparral (Larrea tridentata)

• Chemically modified fats - excepting conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

• Citrus aurantium (Bitter orange)

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from high-oleic safflower or sunflower oil

• Cocoa butter substitute primarily from palm oil

• Comfrey (Symphytum officinale), internal sources

• Creosote

• Cultivated milk

• D&C color additives

• Dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA)

• DHA derived from GM salmon or any other GM fish/seafood

• DHEA (Dehydroepiandrosterone)

• Diacetyl

• Diacetyl tartaric acid esters of mono- and diglycerides (DATEM)

• Diatomaceous earth (DE)

• Dilauryl thiodiproprionate

• Dimethyl decarbonate

• Disodium calcium EDTA

• Disodium dihydrogen EDTA

• dl-alpha-tocopheral acetate

• dl-alpha-tocopheral succinate

• dl-alpha-tocopherol

• DL-alpha-tocopherol

• DL-alpha-tocopherol acetate

• DL-alpha-tocopherol succinate

• dl-alpha-tocopheryl

• DL-alpha-tocopheryl

• Dodecyl 4-hydroxybenzoate Ethyl paraben

• Dodecyl gallate

• EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)

• EPA derived from GM salmon or any other GM fish/seafood

• EPG (modified plant-based oil)

• Erythorbic acid

• Esterified propoxylated glycerol (EPG)

• Ethoxylated mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Ethoxyquin

• Ethyl vanillin

• Ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA)

• Ethylparabens

• EverSweet™

• Fish oil derived from GM salmon or any other GM fish/seafood

• Fully hydrogenated oils

• Genetically modified (GM) salmon or any other GM animal/seafood products

• Germanium

• Glycols

• Glyphosate residues—Grandmothered & Limited

• GMO hemp

• GMO-produced stevia glycosides

• Graviola (Annona muricata)

• Greasewood

• Guanabana

• Guarana—Grandmothered & Limited Ingredient

• Heptyl paraben

• Hexamidine diparaben

• Hexamidine paraben

• HGH

• Human growth hormone (hGH)

• Hydrogenated oils

• Interesterified fats

• Iron oxide

• Isobutylparaben

• Kola Nut (Cola acuminata/Cola nitada)—Grandmothered & Limited

• Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa)

• Krill oil derived from GM krill

• Lab-grown milk protein

• Lactylated esters of mono- and diglycerides

• Larrea tridentata

• Legume-based protein with glyphosate residue

• Malic acid—synthetic—Grandmothered & Limited

• Methylparabens—Grandmothered & Limited

• Methylsynephrine

• Mitragyna speciosa

• Mono- and diglycerides—Grandmothered & Limited

• Necta Sweet®

• Neotame

• Newtame®

• n-Octyl 4-hydroxybenzoate 

• Non-animal whey protein

• Oats with glyphosate residue

• Octyl gallate

• Oxilofrine

• Oxystearin

• p-hydroxyephedrine

• Parabens

• Partially hydrogenated oil (source of trans fats)--Excepting conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

• Pea protein with glyphosate residue

• Pentyl paraben 

• Phase 2®

• Phaseolus vulgaris L.

• Phenoxyethylparaben 

• Phenyl paraben

• Polyethylene glycol (PEG)

• Polyglycitol syrup

• Polysorbates (10, 20, 30, 40, 60, 80, etc.)—Grandmothered & Limited

• Potassium butylparaben

• Potassium iodide/High dose iodine

• Potassium paraben 

• Potassium propylparaben

• Pregnenolone

• Preservatives*

• Propionates (calcium or sodium)

• Propionic acid

• Propyl gallate

• Propylene glycol alginate

• Propylparabens

• PureVia®

• Raspberry ketones

• Reb D (GMO derived)

• Reb M (GMO derived)

• Saccharin

• Salmon oil derived from GM salmon

• Sodium butylparaben

• Sodium chlorite

• Sodium erythorbate

• Sodium ethylparaben

• Sodium methylparaben

• Sodium propionate

• Sodium propylparaben

• Sodium saccharin

• Soursop

• Soy leghemoglobin

• Soy protein with glyphosate residue

• Stannous chloride

• Steviol glycosides—GMO-produced stevia glycosides

• Sucralose

• Sugar Twin®

• Sunett®

• Sweet and Low®

• Sweet One®

• Symphytum officinale

• Synthetic colors

• Synthetic vitamin E

• Testosterone cream

• Tetrasodium EDTA

• Titanium dioxide—Grandmothered & Limited

• Trans fats (man made)—Excepting conjugated linoleic acid (CLA)

• Trehalose

• Undecylenic acid—Grandmothered & Limited

• Undecylenoyl PEG-5 paraben

• Vanillin—artificial

• Vanillin or vanilla—made from GMO microorganisms

• White kidney bean

Allowed & Declined Solvents, Carriers, Preservatives in Natural Flavors 2024

Natural Flavors may or may not contain solvents, carriers, or preservatives. Below is a list of some commonly submitted allowed and declined ingredients in Natural Flavors. Ingredients may be added to this list as new information becomes available.

SOLVENTS

Allowed Solvents:

Water

Natural Ethanol

Super-Critical Carbon Dioxide Authentic Essential Oil Natural Vegetable Oils

Ethyl Acetate Silicon Dioxide

Declined Solvents:

Hydrocarbon solvents Chlorinated solvents Halogenated solvents Propylene glycol

Triglycerides (examples: propane, hexane, freon) Acetone

Ethylene dichloride Hexane

Isopropyl alcohol Methyl alcohol Methylene chloride Trichloroethylene

Turmeric Oleoresin (any oleoresin including paprika oleoresin) is not allowed unless the supplier can confirm they are organic or that ethyl alcohol is the solvent. Also allowed if no substitute ingredient is available and the product is going to be core.

CARRIERS

Carriers must comply with 205.605 OR 205.606 of the NOP’s National List or be listed below.
Allowed Carriers:

Acetic Acid Alcohol Ascorbic Acid

Ethanol (even if it doesn't say "natural") Benzyl Alcohol

Ethyl Alcohol

Gum Arabic or Arabic gum (same thing) Glycerin or Glycerol (same thing)

Juices: grape juice concentrate, pineapple concentrate, strawberry concentrate, plum juice concentrate, etc.

Maltodextrin (including corn, potato, and tapioca) Medium Chain Triglycerides (MCT)

Potato Maltodextrin (or Dextrin for short) Silicon Dioxide

Tapioca Dextrin Tapioca Starch Tragacanth Gum

Vegetable oils: canola oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, olive oil, rapeseed oil, etc. Water
Declined Carriers:

Benzoic acid

DATEM (Diacetyl Tartaric Acid Esters of Monoglycerides)

Modified Food Starch (unless it meets MFS Guidance doc/decision tree) Mono and Diglycerides

Polyglycerol esters of fatty acids Polysorbate 80

Propylene Glycol Triacetin

1,3 Propanediol

PRESERVATIVES

Preservatives must comply with 205.605 OR 205.606 of the NOP’s National List or be listed below.

OTHER ALLOWED SUB-INGREDIENTS

4-hydroxy-2,5-dimethyl-3(2H)-furanone (= furaneol)

OTHER DECLINED SUB-INGREDIENTS

Triethyl Citrate

Ethyl 2-hydroxy Propanoate Sorbitol

Sucrose Esters of Fatty Acids

NGVC Added Caffeine Standard

NGVC’s goal with our Added Caffeine Standard is to be fully transparent with customers and ensure they are not buying products that they would otherwise assume do not contain caffeine. Many products contain naturally occurring caffeine (e.g. kombucha, coffee, tea) and/or added caffeine and maintain their nutritional benefits. This standard is in place to help guide between gray areas on new products where added caffeine is concerned.

NGVC will allow added caffeine to select food products on a case by case basis which adhere to ALL of the following standards:

1. The added caffeine must be derived from a well-known plant-based source (e.g. green tea extract, coffee, yerba mate) that falls under our definition of Natural Caffeine*.We reserve the right to analyze the Country of Origin for the plant to assess that it is being sourced from environmentally and socially sustainable locations (e.g. Fair Trade certifications).

2. The total caffeine (naturally occurring and added) must be not be higher than 200 mg per serving (approximately 1 cup of coffee). A mug of filtered coffee (125 mL) contains 173.25 mg of caffeine. Gaascht F, Dicato M, Diederich M.

3. The added caffeine must be labeled clearly on the product.It must list the amount of caffeine per serving on the product.It must list the plant-based source the caffeine is derived from on the product.

*Definition of Natural Caffeine:

Natural Caffeine must be derived from a well-known plant-based source (e.g. green tea extract, coffee, yerba mate). It cannot be created in a lab and/or come from synthetic ingredients or derivatives.

Note Regarding Guarana in Food:

Guarana is climbing plant from the Amazon basin known for the seeds from its fruit and is widely used as a dietary supplement. Its seeds contain approximately four times the amount of caffeine as coffee beans. It is most commonly found in energy drinks.

NGVC does not allow Guarana as an ingredient to any energy drinks. Unlike well-known forms of caffeine (e.g. coffee, tea) Guarana is not naturally occurring/consumed by itself in food (e.g. brewed as a beverage or eaten as snack). When it appears in food products it is added specifically. NGVC does not approve any food/drink with Guarana listed as an ingredient. The acceptable circumstances for approval of caffeine extracted from Guarana are listed below. Pure caffeine extracted from Guarana would be viewed similarly to green tea extract or another form of extracted plant-based caffeine and therefore would be acceptable on a case by case basis if it meets the criteria below.

NGVC may allow caffeine extracted/derived from Guarana as an ingredient to select food products on a case by case basis which adhere to the following standards:

1. It is pure caffeine extracted from the Guarana plant (similar to green tea extract)

2. The total caffeine must not be higher than 200 mg per serving (approximately 1 cup of coffee).

3. It is labeled as caffeine clearly on the product.It must list the amount of caffeine per serving on the product.It must list Guarana as the source the caffeine is derived from on the product.

Vitamins Note:

The science examining Guarana and how it affects other dietary ingredients is lacking. No new Vitamins products with Guarana as an added ingredient are accepted. It is currently only offered as:

• A single supplement (Guarana capsules)

• Grandmothered in energy, weight loss and/or sports supplements already in the Vitamins Department.