HBM is a clean label supplement manufacturer running pectin-based gummy systems and clean liquid formats in Tampa Bay, FL. The standard sugar clean label base is tapioca syrup, cane sugar, water, and pectin. The sugar-free clean label base swaps in FOS chicory root fiber and allulose. Both decks keep minor ingredients under 2%: natural flavor, natural color, sodium citrate, and citric acid. Four depositing stations run 300KG/hour each (two run at a time), 90,000,000 gummies per month. HBM holds 8 certifications including USDA Organic, Non-GMO Project Verified, NSF, and Ecocert. Bench sample to commercial run happens under one quality system.

Clean label means a buyer can read the ingredient deck out loud without explaining anything. No gelatin sourced from undisclosed origins. No artificial colors. No FD&C dyes. No high-fructose corn syrup. The decks are short and the ingredients are recognizable. This page covers how HBM builds clean label gummies, what’s in the sugar and sugar-free base systems, and how the clean label posture extends into liquids.

What clean label means at HBM

Clean label is a market category, not a regulated term. HBM defines it operationally: pectin instead of gelatin, natural colors and flavors, recognizable sweeteners, and no artificial preservatives in the base system. Every ingredient on the deck must be one a consumer can pronounce. The base systems are pectin-deposited, not gelatin. Pectin is plant-derived, vegan-compatible, and runs cleaner on the label. It also handles heat-sensitive actives differently than gelatin, which matters during formulation.

Sugar clean label base system

The sugar base is HBM’s most popular clean label deck. It tastes closest to a traditional gummy and reads short on the label. Base ingredients: – Tapioca syrup – Cane sugar – Water – Pectin Minor ingredients (under 2%): – Natural flavor – Natural color – Sodium citrate – Citric acid No corn syrup. No artificial colors. No artificial flavors. No gelatin.

Sugar-free clean label base system

The sugar-free deck swaps the caloric sweeteners for FOS chicory root fiber and allulose. Both are recognized clean label sweeteners. Allulose does not spike blood glucose and is not counted as sugar on US nutrition panels. Base ingredients: – FOS (chicory root fiber) – Allulose – Water – Pectin Minor ingredients (under 2%): – Natural flavor – Natural color – Sodium citrate – Citric acid No sugar alcohols. No artificial sweeteners. No sucralose, aspartame, or acesulfame potassium.

Active load and formulation limits

Clean label decks still need to deliver the active. HBM’s gummy lines run 10-17% active load by weight on average. Maximum tested load is 33% for compatible actives. Heat-sensitive actives require formulation adjustments. The R&D team adjusts cook temperature and deposition timing to protect potency. Bench samples are run before commit.

Coatings that stay clean label

Coatings are part of the deck. HBM offers carnauba wax, tapioca starch, wax plus starch, sugar, and custom coatings. Carnauba wax and tapioca starch both qualify as clean label. The choice depends on tackiness, sheen, and shelf stability targets for the SKU.

Clean label in liquids

The clean label posture extends to HBM’s liquid formats. Water-based, oil-based, emulsion, liposomal, and suspension systems are all available without artificial preservatives when the formulation supports it. Shelf stability without artificial preservatives requires careful pH control, water activity management, and packaging selection. The R&D team specs these per SKU.

Certifications backing the label

Clean label is a marketing posture. Certifications are the evidence behind it. HBM holds 8 certifications: FDA Registration, NSF, Non-GMO Project Verified, USDA Organic, Ecocert, Health Canada, Florida DBPR, and Made in USA. USDA Organic and Non-GMO Project Verified are the two most relevant to clean label positioning.

Frequently asked questions