Hemp CBD is everywhere these days: it’s in grocery stores, health shops, cocktails, cookies and cooking oil. And while it may seem like CBD has taken over, the U.S. hemp industry is still relatively new, and unregulated by the FDA and USDA. This means that if you’re buying hemp CBD products, it’s important to do some research and understand where the products you’re buying come from. Not all hemp is created equal, and right now, one of the best ways to know that the hemp CBD products you’re purchasing are safe, pure, and high quality comes down to one thing: third-party lab results.

In a world where it’s up to companies to hold themselves accountable, third-party testing is important, but sifting through the information in these results can be time-consuming and downright confusing. That’s why we’ve created this handy guide to help you know what to look for when it comes to lab results and how to separate the good, the bad, and everything in between when it comes to buying hemp CBD.

Why it’s important for companies to provide third-party testing

Right now, third-party lab testing is the thing that separates the good from the bad when it comes to CBD products. "Third-party lab testing" means that a CBD company sends their product to an independent company to test CBD concentration, and to ensure there are no traces of pesticides.

Unfortunately, many companies that provide CBD products aren’t being totally honest about what is and isn’t in their product simply because they don’t have to be. Third-party testing helps hemp CBD companies ensure the quality of their products, and it provides peace of mind for consumers.

What we can learn from test results

There are more than 100 compounds in a hemp plant, and cannabidiol (CBD) is just one. Test results provide producers and customers information about how much of each and every compound is in a product. Think of it as an ingredient list. This information can help everyone involved in the production of a CBD product know how much CBD is actually in a tincture or capsule.

Components that should and shouldn’t be in hemp CBD products

When looking through lab results, there are a few things to take note of:

• The amount of CBD in the product. Some companies might advertise a certain amount of CBD on the label, and what’s actually in the product could be much less, or even none at all. Lab results can help you ensure that the money you’re spending on a CBD product actually contains the amount of CBD that’s advertised.
• The amount of THC. Since THC is a component found in hemp plants, it’s normal for a very small amount of THC to be found in CBD products. That said, CBD products are not here to “get you high” like THC products, so it’s always important to ensure that the amount of THC in any CBD product is below 0.3%.
• Full-spectrum vs. CBD Isolate. Full-spectrum refers to CBD that includes and works together with components like terpenes and cannabigerol (CBG) to produce restorative benefits. Isolate CBD is pure CBD and nothing else, and it typically doesn’t produce the desired effects that full-spectrum CBD does.
• The levels of “bad” things you absolutely don’t want in your CBD products. Things like mycotoxins, microbials like salmonella or e coli, yeast, mold, or residual solvents should not be in your CBD product. You want to make sure all these are “Non Detectable” in the lab results.

Populum’s process for third-party testing

Implementing third-party testing was a part of the process and founding mission at Populum. Greg Parker, Populum’s founder, wanted to find safe and reliable CBD products, and found that third-party testing was what set the good stuff apart from the bad.

“The reason I wanted to start a CBD company is because of the sketchy experience I had buying,” said Greg Parker. “Brands were making exaggerated claims about what it could do without providing testing results to back it up.”

Greg Parker continued, "Here at Populum, we’ve made it our mission to be transparent about where our products come from and how they are made from start to finish. For us, the foundation is working with domestic farmers with ethical practices, especially now, as hemp farming has become less regulated, while the amount of hemp production in the U.S. is increasing."

Populum also does multiple rounds of third-party testing for quality assurance. The first third-party test is done with raw extract in order to guarantee the concentration of cannabinoids and ensure that no harmful chemicals were introduced. This is the most comprehensive test. The second takes place after each product has been manufactured and bottled.

We send each and every product to Analytical 360, the third-party lab we partner with, for final formulation testing. The results of this test are what you’ll find included with your order when it arrives at your door!

A Guide to Populum's Lab Results

When looking through lab results, there are a few things to take note of:

1) The amount of CBD in the product.

2) The amount of THC.

3) The levels of “bad” things you absolutely don’t want in your CBD products.

4) The lab results key.

5) The full lab results from our third-party lab.

Note: You can also find the latest copy of our lab results on our product pages.

At the end of the day, ensuring that whatever company you purchase CBD products from is providing third-party testing is an excellent way to know that you can trust that you’re getting what you pay for. It’s not just about buying from a certain brand, it’s about caring about the source of your CBD oil, wherever you get it from, we encourage you to always ask for a comprehensive lab report.