A bold new initiative is shaking up the dietary supplement industry, and it's about time! SuppCo, a forward-thinking company, has launched a groundbreaking certification program that aims to verify the active ingredients in supplements. But here's where it gets controversial: this program is not just another stamp of approval; it's a game-changer that addresses a critical issue often overlooked.
SuppCo's journey began with a simple yet powerful mission: to empower consumers like you and me to make informed choices about supplements. The co-founder and CEO, Steve Martocci, shares a personal frustration that many of us can relate to. He realized that the industry's systemic failures were hindering our ability to trust what we buy. With their new program, TESTED by SuppCo, they're setting a high bar for transparency and accountability, ensuring that responsible brands can prove their worth.
The certification process is rigorous and independent. SuppCo partners with brands like Momentous, Thorne, and Gaia Herbs, who understand the importance of transparency. Jordan Glenn, the head of science at SuppCo, explains that this certification is an extension of their commitment to quality. Last year, they tested 44 popular supplements sold on Amazon, and the results were eye-opening: almost half failed to meet basic label accuracy standards.
The TrustScore feature, which evaluates formulation decisions and manufacturing standards, is an essential part of this process. It acts as a precursor to lab testing, ensuring that quality is considered from the get-go. TESTED by SuppCo takes it a step further, verifying what's actually in the bottle you buy. Together, these tools create a closed loop of trust, ensuring that the products you choose live up to their promises.
SuppCo's initial testing rounds focused on creatine, NAD+, urolithin A, and berberine supplements, and the results were shocking. A staggering 22 products contained a mere 0% to 3% of their listed active ingredients! Brands claiming the highest serving sizes were often the worst offenders, concealing weak or absent active ingredients.
"These aren't close calls; they're failures at every level of quality control," SuppCo emphasizes. "Whether it's manufacturing shortcuts, supplier issues, or intentional deception, the result is the same: products that claim confidence but deliver almost nothing."
TESTED by SuppCo submits all products for testing through an independent ISO 17025-accredited laboratory. Products that meet or exceed 95% of their labeled active ingredient claims earn the certification. Importantly, all results are posted on SuppCo's product pages, allowing consumers to make informed decisions. With over 650,000 users actively tracking their supplement routines on SuppCo, certification results, including failures, are directly accessible to those making purchase decisions.
"Visibility is key," Glenn says. "Existing certifications are valuable, but they often overlook the direct consumer perspective."
The testing process is an annual affair, ensuring ongoing compliance. Products that fall short are guided through remediation and retested. Brands pay a certification fee to cover the costs of independent testing, program operations, and licensing.
SuppCo's approach addresses a critical structural issue in the industry. As Glenn puts it, "The supplement industry is at a crossroads. Consumer expectations are rising, and independent verification is no longer a differentiator but a baseline expectation."
Brands partnering with TESTED understand that transparency is the new competitive advantage. Verification, accountability, and transparency are the foundation, and brands that prioritize quality and prove it independently will define the category.
Jeff Byers, CEO of Momentous, emphasizes, "It's easy to talk about quality, but proving it is the challenge. We chose to participate in TESTED by SuppCo because trust and accountability are the future of this industry. Transparency should be a given, and brands like ours should be willing to prove it."
SuppCo joins the ranks of organizations like ConsumerLab, NSF International, and the United States Pharmacopeia in their mission to ensure supplement label accuracy, identity, purity, and quality. However, SuppCo's certification addresses a fundamental structural issue in testing. Most existing certifications rely on manufacturer-submitted samples or tests from production lots, but TESTED purchases products anonymously, off the shelf, just like a consumer would. This distinction closes a loophole, ensuring that products deliver what they promise, even after retail aging.
Other companies in the space, like natural product manufacturer NOW Foods, have also conducted their own testing of supplements purchased on Amazon, identifying widespread labeling and potency issues. NOW's industry self-policing program has conducted 19 rounds of testing since 2017, monitoring a range of ingredients. Their results have been described as "alarming" and "abysmal," highlighting the need for independent verification.
SuppCo's certification program is a much-needed step towards a more transparent and trustworthy supplement industry. It empowers consumers to make informed choices and holds brands accountable. So, what do you think? Is this the future of supplement certification? Let's discuss in the comments!
