Can You Trust the Supplement Industry?
There has been some negative publicity over the years regarding the quality and safety of natural dietary supplements. However, what people need to understand is that the negative image is mostly in regards to the "garage manufacturers" trying to make a quick buck off imported illegal raw materials. This, however, has been changing quickly as the FDA has taken swift action in aggressively prosecuting these small numbers of companies and individuals.
Since 2007, all dietary supplement manufacturers in the United States are legally obligated to be 100% cGMP compliant to operate under the FDA’s 21CFR part 111. What most consumers don’t know is what cGMP really means. cGMP stands for Current Good Manufacturing Practices, which are based on Standard Operating Procedures that are very detailed and closely monitored and regulated by the FDA.
The testing protocols and procedures are second to none compared to other countries around the world and every single raw material is tested upon arrival for purity, potency, and microbial specifications before they are ever released and scheduled for production. After production, all finished products must meet strict United States Pharmacopeia Standards for disintegration, dissolution, microbial specs and test methods for all active ingredients in the label claims. This process involves a lot of resources such as properly trained employees, time, & money. Most of the larger supplement manufacturers have full in-house laboratories that can handle all the testing and test methods on site. On top of the testing done within the manufacturer, many companies third-party test their products before ever distributing them to the public. To put it in perspective, the Standard Operating Procedures for a dietary supplement manufacturer are just as complex and stringent as an OTC pharmaceutical facility!
The FDA audits dietary supplement manufacturers regularly and they are very strict in what they look for during their typical week long audit per facility. On top of the mandatory cGMP tests, most manufacturers have additional third party cGMP compliance certificates. Some examples are NSF, UL, NPA, FDA OTC, TGA, & Organic Certifications. Many of the top vitamin and supplement companies demand these additional certifiers so that their operating procedures go far and above even the basic requirements set by the FDA. In fact, many pharmaceutical companies are now outsourcing their products to supplement contract manufacturers since the facilities are just as strict and regulated as producing pharmaceutical drugs.
Top things to look for when buying a supplement product:
- Made in USA.
- cGMP Certified.
- Brand recognition and longevity.
- Company transparency.
- Pure ingredients that you understand.
Are the ingredients safe?
Of course many natural vitamins, minerals, and herbs are powerful and can have many beneficial effects without life threatening side effects. However, if an individual is taking other prescription drugs, some supplements should be talked about with your Naturopath or MD before consuming. Historically, all of the adverse reports with supplements have been associated with either a preexisting condition or an adverse interaction caused by mixing with pharmaceutical drugs.
In the end, when taking your vitamins and supplements, you can be assured that each product has been thoroughly tested and has passed countless checks and balances for your safety.
