Solary and Source Naturals both sell hundreds of natural supplements.
Every year, Americans spend billions of dollars on bulk herbs, herbal teas and capsules and tablets containing naturally derived remedies, according to medical doctor Stephen Barrett from Quackwatch.org. Both Solaray and Source Naturals are companies that have been part of that market for decades, selling vitamins, herbs and other supplements.
Solaray Company History
Solaray is a brand of natural supplements and herbs owned by the Nutraceutical company. Solaray started in 1973 as a company that specialized in complimentary herbal combination. In 1984, the brand line started offering minerals, vitamins and specialty formulas.
Source Naturals Company History
The company Source Naturals was started by CEO Ira Goldberg in 1982. Its supplements combine nutrients, herbs and nutraceuticals in special formulas. The company also provides single ingredient supplements.
Distribution and Products
Both companies offer vegetarian, dairy-free and gluten-free formulas. Both companies also offer their products primarily through health food stores, natural supplement shops and natural health professionals. Online catalogs are available at their website for consumers to view.
Solaray distributes its products in more than 60 countries and across the United States. It carries over 900 products, the most in the supplement industry. Source Naturals distributes its products in 25 countries, including the United States, and has over 600 products available.
Quality Standards
Solaray explains its testing procedures on its official website. Sensory tests are used that evaluate touch, taste and smell of the products and laboratory assays are performed to validate microbial content, identity of the substances, purity and potency before releasing the ingredients for manufacturing. Solaray does not allow aluminum, FD & C colors, high fructose corn syrup, MSG, pharmaceutical glazes or artificial flavors, colors, preservatives or sweeteners in their products. Solaray also screens for herbicides, pesticides and heavy metals, though allowable levels are not mentioned on the brand's website.
does not provide information on quality testing or disallowed ingredients for their products on its official website.
Cost
Both Solaray and Source Naturals are considered fairly inexpensive brands. Their prices are comparable. For instance, Solaray's bottle of 180 capsules of the calcium-magnesium-vitamin D combination (known as "Cal-Mag") is around $19 retail price as of 2010. Source Natural's calcium-magnesium-vitamin D supplement (known simply as "Calcium and Magnesium") costs around $10 retail for a bottle of 100 capsules.
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