An important step in our continual testing procedures is the
detection of toxins.
Professor Fun Sun Chu, is a member and scientific associate
of the Food Research Institute and Dept. of Food Microbiology
and Toxicology, Univ. of Wisconsin-Madison. Dr. Chu has worked
more than 25 years with some of the most potent toxins known,
and is recognized internationally for tests he has developed
that allow scientists to detect extremely low levels of natural
toxins in foods, plant and animal tissues, and environmental
samples.
One test that Dr. Chu developed, which is conducted on every
batch of algae that is harvested, is an antibody test, specifically
a sensitive enzyme-linked immuno-absorbent assay (ELISA) test.
Another test, high-pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) is
also conducted on each batch of algae that is harvested.
Every batch of algae must fall BELOW the acceptable established
limit, which is set by Oregon State and Federal Dept of Agriculture,
and their respective food safety divisions. That limit is less
than 1 part per million.
E3Live's Aphanizomenon
flos-aquae products test as non-detectable or less than 1 part
per million for toxin.
We have a certificate on file for every batch of algae
that is processed and bottled.
We are frequently
asked about water quality and testing that we do as a harvester
of Aphanizomenon flos-aquae coming from Upper Klamath Lake located
in Southern Oregon. Below is information to address these concerns.
The water quality of Klamath Lake is monitored by state and
federal agencies including U.S. Bureau of Reclamation, and U.S.
Fish and Wildlife. These results are a matter of public record.
As a harvester and supplier of AFA blue green algae, we monitor
water quality throughout the year. First, we have access to
test results from Federal and State agencies, and during our
harvest season we perform heavy metals and pesticide residue
tests on the water and in our products. We use standards and
guidelines that are set for drinking water. This is done by
approved independent laboratories specializing in food and water
quality.
At our harvest site, we use all food grade equipment, and stainless
steel cooling tanks.
During harvesting, we immediately
chill the algae to preserve the chlorophyll and nutritional
content. We immediately filter the algae to remove everything
but the Aphanizomenon flos-aquae, thus ensuring a pure product.
This all takes place before we transport the algae to our land-based
site for transport to the freezers.
Our AFA products are tested for standard food safety. We do
aerobic plate counts checking for bacteria, and we also test
for E.Coli, Coliforms, S. Aureus, Yeast and Molds, and Listeria.
As with all food products, there are standard limits set by
FDA and Dept. of Agriculture, which we must meet for basic food
safety. We meet and exceed all of these standards.
We test for toxins of E3Live's Aphanizomenon
flos-aquae products. The standard tests are Mycrocycstis,
Anatoxin, Saxotoxin and Neurotoxin. The Dept. of Agriculture
and the FDA have set allowable limits, and we must fall below
these levels. We meet and exceed all of the limits.
Independent laboratories specializing in food safety and algal
toxins perform both our basic food safety and our toxin testing.
We work with the top experts in the world to ensure that we
bring you only the best and purest AFA algae.
W. R. Beck
Distributor Services Manager
For E3Live
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Toll Free
866-255-5002 
