Animal Nutrition and Health

Competitive Product Analysis Jan. 05

Background.
- A distributor asked their LAN Business Manger Why there was a difference
in the physical form of Company A organics Selenium yeast and Lallemands Alkosel?
- A sample of the Competitors yeast was taken, and it was seen to be a yeast prill,
as opposed to a dust - which was the form it was originally sold as.
- This was of interest as we know that prills are formed through the drying of cream yeast
in a fluid bed dryer - with the primary function of maintaining yeast viability.
- Within the FDA approval of Selenium yeast, the product must be a dried non viable yeast

-http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-IMPACT/2003/September/Day-03/i22358.htm
- In the last weeks of Jan 05, three samples of the same organic yeast product from
Company A were obtained from three different distributors to analyze:
- physical consistency of product,
- viability
- total Se content and Semet content.
- Details of the Distributors were as follows:Distributor X a Mid-West distributor, with regional distribution
Distributor Y a Mid-West distributor, with national distribution
Distributor Z a Californian distributor, with regional distribution
2

Visual Appearance
Product from Distributor X
A prill product. Sample is dominated by a brown/yellow colored prill.
Within the sample however there are numerous cream colored prills.
Very little dust.
Product from Distributor Y
A prilled product that has a degree of dust within the sample.
The prills are consistent and are an off white color.
Product from Distributor Z
A product that looks very similar to that from Distributor Y. A prilled product that
has a degree of dust within the sample. The prills are consistent and are an off white color.

Sample X and Y

Sample X and Y

Sample X and Z
3

Product Analysis

Sample
Distr. X.

Sample
Distr. Y.

Sample
Distr. Z.

Alkosel

FDA.
legal limit

Selenium (ug/g) (1)

1970

2300

2290

Min. 2000

Min. 2000
(98%
organic)

Selenomethionine
(ppm) (2)

2310

3260

3350

Min. 3000

Total Plate Count

(CFU/g)

6.73 x 10*8

9 x 10*8

2.46 x 10*9

Non Viable

Non Viable

(1) Perkin-Elmer, Analytical Methods for Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry, Norwalk CT, January, 1982 (modified)
Gorsuch, T.T., The destruction of Organic Matter, Peragamon Press, NY, 1970 (modified.) Covance, Madison, USA.
(2) Mark Sliwkowski, Methods in Enzymology, VOl 107 pages 620-623, 1984.
Advanced Protein Technology Centre, Toronto, Canada
4

Product Analysis - Commentary

Product from Distributor X
Poor quality Selenium yeast product - Low selenomethionine content : 2,300 ppm.
If fermented adequately, one could expect a Semet content of min.3000 ppm.
High Colony Forming Unit (CFU) count.
Product not in line with FDA definition
Product from Distributor Y
Good quality Selenium yeast product as far as total Se and Semet contents are concerned.
High Conlony Forming Unit (CFU) count.
Product not in line with FDA definition.
Product from Distributor Z
Good quality Se yeast product as far as total Se and Semet contents are concerned.
High Conlony Forming Unit (CFU) count.
Product not in line with FDA definition.

Sample X and Y

Sample X and Y

Sample X and Z

Conclusions

The same Organic Selenium Product from Company A, is highly variable in terms of:(1) Physical Characteristics
- color
- form

(white/brown)
(dust:prill ratio)

(2) Se analysis
- Total Selenium
(1970 2300ppm)
- Selenomthionine (2210 3350 ppm)
In addition to product variability, the product is a viable yeast and hence is not in
line with FDA approval.
Make sure your organic selenium producer is a primary producer of a :- CONSISTENT HIGH QUALITY PRODUCT - Accept Nothing less