General FAQ
What does Barrier Packed mean?
Barrier Packed products contain cups or pouches inside of a medical grade Tyvek® bag. This saves labor by eliminating the need to wash individual cups or pouches.
How are ClearH2O gels commercially sterilized?
ClearH2O gel products are pasteurized at high temperature (190°F or 87°C) during the manufacturing process. Pasteurized products are then wrapped in Tyvek® medical packaging and boxed before being e-beam irradiated. Verification of commercial sterility occurs with each lot of products being tested by an independent laboratory for microbiological analysis and documented on Certificates of Analysis, which are available online.
What effect does E-beam have on the product?
E-beam dosages can vary within each case depending on the level of electron beam penetration. In addition to changing the color of the product, higher levels of irradiation can breakdown the gel matrix structure which causes a softer and more moist gel.
Why are gel products a good choice for research animals?
Unlike water bottles and mash diets, gels provide a consistent amount of hydration, nutrition, and medication without wetting the animal.
Can you provide an MSDS for ClearH2O products?
The hydration and nutritional gel products sold by ClearH2O are not considered hazardous chemicals under the US Department of Labor, Occupational Safety and Health Communication Standard (29CFR 1910.1200). These products are under the umbrella of MSDS Exemption Reference for Food Manufacturers section 1910.1200(b)(5)(iii) – Any food, food additive, color additive, drug, cosmetic, or medical or veterinary device or product, including materials intended for use as ingredients in such products (e.g. flavors and fragrances), as such terms are defined in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 301 et seq.) or the Virus-Serum Toxin Act of 1913 (21 U.S.C. 151 et seq.), and regulations issued under those Acts, when they are subject to the labeling requirements under those Acts by either the Food and Drug Administration or the Department of Agriculture. Accordingly, Material Safety Data Sheets are not required or necessary for these products.
What is the best way to store ClearH2O products?
Unopened, ClearH2O products can be stored at room temperature (20–22 °C (68–72) °F) and do not require special handling. Once opened (provided the gel has not been exposed to cross contamination) ClearH2O products can be stored at 4°C in a sealed bag/container to prevent the product from drying out for approximately 2 weeks.
What if my animals eat the plastic cup or pouch?
ClearH2O cups and pouches comply with FDA regulations for food contact and do not contain heavy metals, chemicals or known allergens. The plastic is non-toxic, BPA-free and harmless to the animal if it’s consumed or chewed.
What is ClearH2O’s Quality Program?
ClearH2O manufactures products in accordance with Good Manufacturing Practices as defined in the Code of Federal Regulations (21 CFR Part 507).
ClearH2O operates an FDA approved HACCP facility that is inspected by independent third-party accredited bodies and federal agencies.
The ClearH2O quality program follows Safe Quality Food (SQF) accreditation requirements compliant with the Global Food Safety Initiative (GFSI) certification.
Why is the texture of the product I received different than expected?
In addition to varying levels of irradiation, storage conditions or transportation stress may impact the texture of the product. If you have specific questions about a product you received, contact Customer Service at orders@clearh2o.com.