In a
world that is becoming increasingly hostile to
human health, there has never been a greater
demand for products that take a natural, holistic
approach to wellness, an approach that is designed
around the interdependence of the body's various
systems. Bazaar of India’s products perfectly meet
this growing worldwide need by marrying time
honored wisdom with cutting edge technology. By
placing in your hands the finest quality herbs and
nutritional supplements, Bazaar of India gives you
the tools you need to take charge of your health
and to look and feel your best.
At Bazaar of India, uncompromising quality is
not an option - it is an obligation. It is not a
vague goal -- it is standard operating procedure.
That's why Bazaar of India is the acknowledged
quality leader in the industry for Ayurvedic herbs
and products. Quality begins in the fields, where
only the finest herbs and raw materials are
selected. The company's global sourcing of raw
materials ensures that the highest quality
products are chosen from each harvest season. We
are one of the select Ayurvedic companies in the
country that maintains 2 full time offices in
India. That allows us the ability to select from
the pick of the crop for each herb, and not
inferior “left over” stock that is made available
to others.
After sourcing, harvesting, and cleaning, these
materials are shipped to the 14,000 sq. ft. Bazaar
of India manufacturing facility in Berkeley, CA
where they are subjected to a series of in-depth
quality control tests to ensure purity, potency
and cleanliness. All incoming raw materials are
thoroughly tested before they are released for use
in Bazaar of India’s products. Quality checks
continue throughout the various stages of
manufacturing, as well as at the completion of
production.
By maintaining this intense level of quality
control and developing new methods and techniques
to ensure top product quality, Bazaar of India
perpetuates its long-standing position at the
forefront of the industry. The natural result is a
large and growing family of customers- men and
women throughout the world who wouldn't think of
buying any other brand than Bazaar of India.
QUALITY ASSURANCE
STANDARDS
ETHICALLY WILDCRAFTED AND CERTIFIED ORGANIC HERBS
As a company, Bazaar of India takes enormous
pride in the quality of the products we offer.
Indeed, quality is the first part of the Bazaar of
India creed "Quality, Service, and Integrity." In
order to produce high quality products, we start
with the finest raw materials available. All our
Ayurvedic herbs are cultivated from natural
sources. They are grown in their natural
environments so as to insure the utmost potency
and authenticity of the plants. Therefore, all our
herbs are either wildcrafted
(grown wild, not on farms) or certified organic
(cultivated on farms).
TESTING PROCEDURES AND INFORMATION
Heavy Metal testing
Due to our relationships with the same
suppliers for the past 25 years, our trust and
understanding ensures we import the quality of
products that we can safely sell. Our herbs are
tested by independent US-FDA approved labs for
heavy metal limits and we always ensure that our
suppliers are aware of our requirements as well
and will reject any herb batch that may not
comply. The testing procedures used are based on
the ICP-MS method of testing and the guidelines
set in the U.S. Pharmacopeia, and are considered
industry standards and benchmarks by which all
other tests are measured. Each heavy metal test
includes testing for LEAD, MERCURY, ARSENIC,
CADMIUM, NICKEL, and several others. Lab reports &
results for our individual products are always
available upon request.
Bacteria testing

By testing for and counting the bacteria on
machinery, equipment, and personnel in the
production area, we can evaluate the standard
hygiene level and the efficiency of our cleaning
procedures. By checking the bacteria counts in the
production areas we ensure that our products will
not become contaminated in the manufacturing
plant. BAZAAR OF INDIA utilizes two
different methods to test for bacteria: swabbing
methods and a device called a bactometer, which
uses advanced computer technology to test for the
presence of bacteria in raw materials, liquids,
and finished products.
Total Bacteria testing To determine the
number of microbes which might be contaminating a
product, we take a total plate count. We test a
sample of raw material or finished product and
determine the amount of aerobic microbe
contamination in the sample. We then compare this
count to our stringent allowable spec levels. If
any raw material counts are higher than allowable
levels, the batch is rejected and returned to the
vendor. Finished products are also audited to
ensure they meet BAZAAR OF INDIA quality
specifications.
Mold and Yeast testing
We regularly perform yeast and mold counts by
using a count plate. A count plate is a
specialized dish which contains the elements a
mold or yeast would need to sustain life if it
were present, and a dye which helps these
organisms appear visible.

E. coli testing
The dangers of Escherichia coli (E. coli)
bacteria are well- known. Present in large enough
quantities, this bacteria can be fatal. BAZAAR OF
INDIA tests raw materials for the presence of E.
coli using specially designed E. coli count plates
which contain an indicator that turns the bacteria
blue if present. This allows for visual
identification of the bacteria and, of course,
rejection of that particular batch of raw
material.
Salmonella testing
Salmonella bacteria is responsible for many
food poisoning cases. BAZAAR OF INDIA tests for
salmonella bacteria in herb raw materials and
products using what is called a 1-2 test, This
test allows us to obtain results much more quickly
than standard culture methods.
HERB AND PURITY TESTING
Organoleptic ID testing
This is usually the first step in the
identification of herb samples coming into the
Quality Assurance testing area. This analysis
includes testing with the senses, i.e. checking
the taste, odor, color, and appearance of the raw
herb material.
Microscopy
A microscopic evaluation is performed on
incoming herb samples to validate exactly which
plant parts the sample contains (roots, leaves,
fruit, bark), and to look for any foreign matter
such as insect parts. This test involves the
preparation of a slide of each herb powder to be
tested. By analyzing the cell structure of the
sample under the microscope, we can confirm the
plant species, cell type (part of plant), and see
possible contamination.
Thin Layer Chromatography (TLC) & Potency
Testing TLC
is a reliable analytical technique that
allows us to identify herbs and measure their
quality. Different components of an herb extract
are separated from each other using adsorption and
capillary action. These components are spotted
onto a plate, and the intensity of the spots
represents the concentration of each component in
the extract. Trained personnel can identify the
components by color, and colorless substances are
identified by using a special detecting spray or
ultraviolet light. The TLC test allows us to
"fingerprint" the herb sample and compare it to a
library of known standards. Used in combination
with the FTIR test, we can be assured that the key
components in a particular herb are present in the
sample. BAZAAR OF INDIA occasionally uses TLC to
do comparison testing. We test BAZAAR OF INDIA
products against similar products made by
competitors to ensure that the BAZAAR OF INDIA
products potency and purity are greater than that
of our competitors.

FOREIGN MATERIALS TESTING
Ash testing
We burn a small sample of herb material in a
special microwave furnace for one hour at 700 C.
This burns away all of the organic (plant) matter.
Any ash that remains after the burn is mineral
content or dirt, and this is weighed. Every herb
has a characteristic mineral content and a
corresponding typical ash content. If, in testing,
we find an ash content that is significantly
higher than the typical ash content, we suspect
the presence of dirt or some other foreign
inorganic material. Dirt is a common problem,
especially with herbs harvested from plant roots.
If harvesters do not take the time to completely
clean the dirt from the roots, BAZAAR OF INDIA
will reject their herbs.
Every test we conduct leads to better
product quality, and excellence in product quality
is what has put our products where they are today
. . . at the top of the industry. You can be
assured that with each new product we develop and
manufacture, out commitment to excellence will
continue.