Is the magnesium chloride in Ancient Minerals “Pharmaceutical Grade” or “USP Grade”?
While many manufacturers rely on the phrases “pharmaceutical grade” and “USP Grade” to convey a sense of quality to consumers, one must be familiar with their definition in order to have any true understanding of what this equates to. Both “pharmaceutical grade” and “USP Grade” essentially refer to the same thing – the public standards set forth by the United States Pharmacopeia. While there are several aspects of magnesium chloride that are defined by USP standards, arguably the most important and controversial standard is the maximum allowable heavy metal content (i.e. mercury, cadmium, and lead). After all, this is something that is coming into contact with our skin, and these elements are known toxins (even as low as a single part per million of mercury can have negative effects). In the case of magnesium chloride, the USP standard allows for a maximum heavy metal content of 10 parts per million (ppm). What this equates to for you the consumer, is that manufacturers can casually us
