Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1067339
32B January 2019 Tablets & Capsules oped covert, edible silica micropar- ticles (pictured above) for use in solid oral dosage products such as capsules and tablets. These micro- p a r t i c l e s b e c o m e a p e r m a n e n t product component and provide v e r i f i c a t i o n a n d t r a c e a b i l i t y throughout the product lifecycle. Using a proprietary process, Tru- Tag etches the silica microparticles to create a computer-programmed pattern only detectable by propri- etary devices. This pattern forms a multiplex spectral array that can only be decoded using TruTag's spectral detection units (or readers). In addition to product verification, these codes can provide information on a product's manufacturing plant of origin, which line of equipment w a s u s e d t o m a k e i t , a n d i t s intended geographic sales territory. TruTag offers decoding services, but customers also have the option to purchase the readers and perform authentication in the field. "Our microparticles are typically deployed for the pharmaceutical industry, but we are receiving a growing number of requests from became clear that a robust diagnos- tic and security enforcement tool was necessary to reduce risk and ensure that the company's branded nutraceutical products were not sold outside of the authorized territories and that all products on the shelves were genuine. Daily Wellness investigated sev- eral security options such as bar- codes, holograms, invisible inks, r a d i o - f r e q u e n c y i d e n t i f i c a t i o n (RFID), and other package security features. However, Kwock was con- cerned that these products could be copied or removed, and in the event of product compromise, it may be nearly impossible to diagnose the specific source of the security issue within the distribution chain. The need for product verification and traceability ultimately led Daily Wellness to work with TruTag Technologies, a supplier of on-dose traceable security. A permanent solution TruTag, Emeryville, CA and Kapolei, HI, is a product identity solutions company that has devel- Founded in 1996, Daily Wellness, Honolulu, HI, manufactures brand- ed, clinically-validated dietary sup- plements including FertilityBlend natural fertility supplements for men and women and Asensia, a hormone balancing supplement. "Besides creating high-value prod- ucts, we have earned our customers' trust by having well-known and highly regarded research institutions independently validate the efficacy and safety of our formulas," said Denny Kwock, president and chief executive officer of Daily Wellness. Daily Wellness has expanded beyond the North American market into Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. However, the company knows that such global expansion will mean less visibility and control over p r o d u c t d i s t r i b u t i o n i n t h e s e dynamic and often chaotic environ- ments compared to typical domestic channels. The potential for product compromise could possibly threaten a brand like Daily Wellness, which has spent over 10 years building a high-quality image and gaining the trust of consumers worldwide. It I N D U S T R Y Edible security microparticles protect Daily Wellness products from adulteration and counterfeiting a p p l i c a t i o n