Carlson: A Family Affair
Carlson
A Family Affair
By: Angel Kruzel
Issue: October 2010
Founded by John and Susan Carlson in 1965, Carlson Laboratories has been a family owned and operated business for 45 years. Carlson Laboratories, located in Arlington Heights, IL, is dedicated to providing only the highest quality natural supplements; after all, no one cares more about the quality that goes into a product than the people who put their names on it!
Carlson Laboratories began with a single vitamin E formula and a mission. The Carlson family knew firsthand about this powerful antioxidant, especially in the alpha-tocopheryl succinate form. They started Carlson Laboratories after seeing the health benefits Susan Carlson’s father experienced from taking this form of vitamin E. They wanted to share with everyone the health benefits their family found using natural-source vitamin E.
“Dad’s chest pains began when he was in his 50s, forcing him to limit the activities he loved so much and to stop working,” Susan says.
“Several physicians were unable to significantly help him. While mother was visiting a local health store, the book, Vitamin E: Your Key to a Healthy Heart, caught her interest. It talked about the extensive clinical work of the Shute Medical Clinic of Canada and the work of doctors Evan and Wilfrid Shute with vitamin and heart-related problems.”
“That made us realize that there is a difference in the forms of vitamin E. Not all vitamin E is the same!” Susan’s training as a pharmaceutical chemist, along with her dad’s health issues, inspired the start of Carlson Laboratories.
Since then, the product line has grown to become the most complete line of natural-source vitamin E products in the world. The product range has continued to expand through the years to meet the nutritional needs of their customers.
Realizing the importance of fish oils early on, Carlson Laboratories began educating retailers and consumers in 1982 about the health benefits of fish oil. Acting on a wealth of knowledge, Carlson was one of the first companies to bring liquid Norwegian cod liver oil and liquid Norwegian fish oils to the United States market. In 2009, Carlson was first to introduce Calamari Marine Oil. Carlson fish oils are renowned for their purity and great taste.
All Carlson fish oil products display the Carlson Purity Guarantee on every label. Carlson fish oils are regularly tested using AOAC (the scientific association dedicated to excellence in analytical methods) protocols for freshness, potency and purity by an independent, FDA-registered laboratory. The testing ensures that their fish oils are free of detrimental levels of: mercury, cadmium, lead, PCB’s and 28 other contaminants.
Carlson’s other nutritional supplements can also be recommended with confidence because they have been formulated with the needs of those with special diets in mind. All Carlson supplements are free of gluten, wheat, casein, milk, rye, oats, MSG, preservatives, artificial colors or sweeteners, peanuts, eggs, corn or soy.
Carlson strives to provide the very finest nutritional supplements to customers, manufactured and produced in a way that has a low impact on the environment. The family remains in continuous contact with raw material suppliers to keep current on environmental issues facing product offerings. In addition, the company’s production facilities use energy-efficient equipment and its facilities are constructed with energy-efficient materials.
Susan Carlson says, “We want our children, your children, and all future generations to come, to be able to enjoy a healthy life as well as a healthy environment.”
Carlson is dedicated to excellence. Only the highest quality raw materials are used in the preparation of Carlson products. All lots of raw material are quarantined and samples are meticulously analyzed for purity and potency before being released for use in production.
To protect the effectiveness of the nutrients found in the products, Carlson employs only those manufacturing techniques that avoid the use of excessive heat, moisture and solvents. Products are tested during their manufacture and are not released for packaging until they have passed extensive quality control inspections. Stringent operating and quality control procedures, precise record-keeping and strict sanitary controls are evident throughout Carlson Laboratories to ensure the highest level of product quality possible.
The quality of Carlson products is confirmed through continuous testing and product samples; all Carlson products have been thoroughly tested before being released for sale. Carlson self-imposes a standard well beyond what is dictated by the government.
Carlson Laboratories is an FDA-regulated facility and complies with all FDA Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP’s).
Today, the next generation of the Carlson family continues to ensure that the family name represents the quality supplements people have come to expect. The Carlson product lines now include award-winning Norwegian marine oils, Carlson for Kids children’s supplements, vitamins, minerals, amino acids, special formulations and other nutritional supplements.
In 2010, Carlson was proud to celebrate 45 years of good health – “from our family to yours!”
MISSION STATEMENT
In 1965, with a personal sense of integrity, J.R. Carlson Laboratories set a goal to provide the highest quality, natural-source vitamin E products in the marketplace.
The Carlson’s dedication has been extended to their full line of high quality nutritional products that are based on accepted scientific research and supported with exceptional customer service and eagerness to educate mankind. The Carlson’s continue to learn and teach.