The dietary supplement industry has experienced significant growth, with global sales projected to reach $308 billion by 2028.1 As more consumers turn to supplements to support their health and general wellness, the demand for product quality and transparency has increased.
Third-party testing plays an important role in helping consumers identify reputable brands, ensuring that products meet stringent standards for safety, potency, and purity.
What is Third-Party Supplement Testing?
Third-party testing involves independent laboratories evaluating dietary supplements to assess product quality and label accuracy. While manufacturers may perform their own internal quality checks, third-party assessments provide additional, unbiased verification.
Organizations such as NSF International, U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP), and Banned Substances Control Group (BSCG) are among the independent bodies conducting these evaluations. NSF, for instance, conducts product testing in its accredited laboratories to determine whether products meet certain specifications and match label claims.
Types of Tests Conducted
Purity Testing: Screening for Contaminants
Purity testing is a common quality control practice used to evaluate dietary supplements for potential contaminants that could compromise consumer health. Independent laboratories may screen for a variety of substances, including:
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Heavy Metals: Tests commonly assess levels of lead, mercury, arsenic, and cadmium, which may be present in soil, water, and plant-based ingredients.
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Pesticides: Residues from agricultural chemicals can remain on plant-based ingredients. Testing may include screening for a wide range of commonly used pesticides.
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Microbial Contaminants: Evaluations may include tests for microorganisms like Salmonella, E. coli, and molds.
- Mycotoxins: Tests may look for toxic compounds known as mycotoxins, which are produced by certain molds and sometimes found in products made from botanicals or grains.
By conducting comprehensive purity testing, manufacturers can evaluate whether their supplements meet established quality specifications and assess the presence of potentially harmful substances.
Potency Testing: Verifying Ingredient Levels
Potency testing measures the amount of active ingredients in a supplement to determine whether they align with the amounts stated on the label.
Advanced analytical techniques, such as High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC), are commonly used to measure the concentration of active compounds in dietary supplements. This verification helps support:
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Dosage Consistency: This testing helps confirm that each serving delivers the labeled quantity of active ingredients.
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Product Quality: Evaluation helps support consistency and formulation accuracy across batches.
- Regulatory Compliance: It assists with meeting labeling and manufacturing standards.
Quality Testing: Assessing Product Stability and Performance
Quality testing encompasses several evaluations to evaluate the integrity and consistency of a dietary supplement over time. Key aspects include:
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Dissolution Testing: Assesses how a supplement dissolves in various conditions to help determine how the ingredients may become available for absorption.
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Shelf Life and Stability: Involves testing the product in different environmental conditions (e.g., temperature, humidity) to assess how long it maintains its labeled characteristics.
- Packaging Evaluation: Reviews the effectiveness of packaging materials in protecting the product from potential degradation caused by exposure to light, moisture, or air.
These quality assessments help manufacturers evaluate whether their supplements maintain their labeled potency and qualities throughout their intended shelf life.
Why Third-Party Testing Matters
Protecting Consumer Health
Reports of contaminated or mislabeled dietary supplements highlight the potential risks of products that are not adequately verified.
Between 2007 and 2016, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified hundreds of supplements that contained undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, including substances like sildenafil and anabolic steroids.2
Such findings underscore the importance of rigorous third-party testing to help verify product quality and allow consumers to make informed choices.
Ensuring Label Accuracy
Discrepancies between labeled and actual ingredient amounts can have serious implications. Thus, accurate labeling helps consumers use dietary supplements as intended.
Third-party tested supplements have undergone assessments to verify that the ingredient amounts on the label reflect what’s actually in the product, which is especially important for individuals following structured supplementation routines.
Trust and Transparency
Third-party certifications can help demonstrate a brand’s commitment to quality and transparency, supporting consumer trust. Seals from organizations like NSF, USP, and BSCG indicate that a product has undergone independent testing for specific standards related to quality, purity, and ingredient verification.
FDA Oversight Limitations
The FDA regulates dietary supplements under a different framework than pharmaceuticals, primarily focusing on post-market surveillance. This means that supplements can be sold without prior approval, and the FDA’s authority to mandate recalls is generally limited to situations where significant harm has been reported.
How to Identify a Third-Party Tested Supplement
What to Look for on the Label
Certification Seals: Look for marks such as NSF Certified, USP Verified, or BSCG Certified Drug Free, indicating that the product has undergone rigorous testing.
Batch Numbers and QR Codes: These details can provide access to detailed testing results and Certificates of Analysis (COAs), offering transparency about the product's contents.
If you’re not sure whether a supplement is tested, reach out to brands directly to ask the following questions:
- "Can I see the Certificate of Analysis (COA) for this product?"
- "Which third-party organization conducted the testing, and what standards were used?"
Double Wood Supplements’ Commitment to Transparency
Third-Party Testing Practices
Double Wood Supplements is committed to transparency by providing third-party testing results for all of our products. We test for contaminants such as heavy metals and microbiological agents, ensuring that products meet stringent safety standards. Certificates of Analysis are available to consumers upon request.
Why It Matters to Us—and to You
By prioritizing third-party testing, Double Wood Supplements is proud to support informed consumer decisions and uphold product integrity. Our dedication to testing directly supports our core belief that quality results begin with quality ingredients.
Visit Double Wood Supplements today to explore our wide range of supplements to support your wellness goals.
Citations
[1] https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC10421343/
[2] https://www.wired.com/story/dietary-supplements-can-contain-viagra-steroids-or-worse/