Hello,
We’re Light Labs. We started this company with a goal to address the growing need for transparency in consumer goods, because we saw it ourselves. This platform aims to resolve the lack of accessible, accurate testing by providing brands with an efficient, consumer-friendly way to present quality assurance data. With Light Labs, brands can build trust and competitive advantage by openly sharing test results with customers, meeting the demand for transparency, and offering reliable insights into product safety and quality.
Our mission is to bring this transparency to the food system. Allow customers to buy products and brands that are free of toxic ingredients. Transparency is the first step in creating demand for cleaner products, and ultimately a cleaner supply chain.
Principles
At Light Labs, our work is driven by a set of core principles that serve as guiding pillars in everything we do.
Current Landscape
Many unsafe ingredients and contaminants slip through current regulatory systems, exposing consumers to unnecessary health risks.
Glyphosate: Banned in 28 countries and heavily restricted in the EU, but widely permitted in the U.S. Water levels of glyphosate in the U.S. are reportedly 7,000 times higher than the EU's acceptable levels.
Chemicals in Cosmetics: Over 1,300 chemicals are banned in the EU for cosmetics, while only 11 are restricted in the U.S.
Pesticides: The U.S. allows over 72 pesticides that are banned in the EU, with the U.S. also applying more pesticides and herbicides than any other country.
Food Additives: Thousands of additives allowed in the U.S. are prohibited elsewhere.
Children's Foods: Cinnamon apple puree pouches for children have been found with lead levels 200 times higher than FDA’s proposed guidelines.
Glyphosate Prevalence: 87% of 650 children’s food samples tested positive for glyphosate, with a known carcinogen detected in all cereal samples tested.
Kale Contamination: Seven out of eight kale samples contained "disturbing" levels of toxic chemicals, especially organic kale.
Heavy Metals in Baby Food: In 2021, investigations found widespread contamination with arsenic, lead, cadmium, and mercury in baby foods.
Other Findings: Over one-third of chocolate tested high in heavy metals, and avocado oil frequently tested as rancid or adulterated.
These alarming findings show that current standards are insufficient, and products often contain harmful substances that consumers are unaware of.
Every food product has a unique nutritional fingerprint that goes beyond the basic nutrients listed on standard labels. USDA databases only track around 150 compounds, while foods contain thousands of bioactive compounds. This means nutrient profiles are overly simplistic, overlooking factors that could influence health significantly. Moreover, nutrient facts are based on outdated data, sometimes over a century old, and fail to account for modern agricultural practices. Essential details, such as the soil quality, processing methods, and storage conditions, are not represented, further skewing the accuracy of nutrient density information. The need for a comprehensive approach to food quality testing and transparency is urgent, especially as consumers become more health-conscious. The organic and "better-for-you" (BFY) food category, valued at $221 billion, has immense potential for brands willing to lead the way in transparency.
Environmental Impact of Supply Chain Transparency LapsesWithout transparency, supply chains often ignore environmental costs. Ingredient suppliers can avoid sustainable practices, choosing instead the cheapest methods, regardless of environmental harm. This lack of a feedback loop results in unsustainable practices that damage ecosystems. Brands wishing to implement environmentally responsible practices find it challenging to gather necessary information unless they perform costly, independent testing.
World Class Advisors
We are guided by a team of seasoned veterans in the fields of health, nutrition, and wellness. Their deep industry knowledge and insights drive our commitment to setting the highest standards in product transparency and safety. These advisors bring a wealth of experience from diverse backgrounds, including clinical research, food science, regulatory compliance, and sustainable practices, ensuring that our approach to testing and certification is both scientifically rigorous and aligned with the latest health trends.
Validated Transparency Protocol
The Light Labs Code of Practice (COP) establishes a validated, independent framework for product transparency, focusing on rigorous testing and disclosure of food safety and quality metrics. Created in response to growing consumer demand for verified transparency, our document provides structured guidelines for testing and sharing results on heavy metals, pesticides, and macronutrients.
Through an ISO/IEC 17025-accredited laboratory, we ensures reliability and consistency in test outcomes. The protocol outlines detailed procedures for sample submission, testing processes, and data reporting, aiming to create an accessible platform for consumers to evaluate product safety and quality.
Products are assessed across multiple criteria, including regulatory and voluntary standards, and must meet specific thresholds to qualify for badges representing compliance. The COP includes provisions for ongoing improvement, retesting, and corrective actions for non-compliant products, reinforcing a commitment to transparency and consumer trust. The document also addresses the limitations of testing, variability in results, and potential changes in regulatory standards, positioning the COP as a progressive and adaptable framework.
You can view the Code of Practice here.
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The modern end-to-end solution for lab testing, enabling great food transparency and smarter consumer choices.
Built in Austin, Texas.